"Belle continued, "I don't want to discuss what happened between you and Grayson. But I'm sure you know that Grayson did everything for a reason. He still thinks of you as his brother and would never think about harming you."The smile on Scott's face disappeared instantly."Grayson told you about what happened between me and him?"She nodded her head without any hesitation. "Yeah, he did."Scott frowned as he clenched his teeth in anger. "How dare he!""I believe my husband felt aggrieved."Scott was at a loss for words.Belle continued, "I understand that you're also aggrieved."He glanced up at her before lowering his head again.After a moment of silence, she continued, "I can't say much about what happened between the two of you. I just wanted to ask about Carthus. Grayson had been in a bad mood recently because of him."She couldn't see his expression as he lowered his head to drink his milkshake.He finally raised his head after some time. "Do you think Grayson was in
Belle pursed her lips as she took a sip of her milkshake."I don't know what happened between Carthus and Grayson either. I only visited Carthus because I was curious about it as well. He didn't want to tell me anything, though," said Scott.Belle decided not to question him further as she noticed he had chosen to conclude the conversation about Carthus.Scott continued, "The only few details I know is that Geoffrey facilitated this cooperation between the Page Corporation and Krowdon. I'm sure you already know that Geoffrey has been good friends with Grayson since they were young, just like Sam."Grayson never knew that Carthus was the heir to some tycoon in Krowdon, and he never expected that the representative from Krowdon for the business cooperation was Carthus either."I'm sure Grayson must be annoyed as he couldn't simply terminate their business cooperation after everything Geoffrey had contributed over the years."Another issue was that Carthus was quite the important gu
The hostility emanating from Grayson's body finally subsided as the couple got into the car."Why do you get so angry whenever you see Scott? Why don't you tell him the truth instead of letting the misunderstanding fester?"Grayson's expression sank as he replied, "I have nothing to say to someone as stupid as him. You should stay away from him as well.""Aren't you supposed to be at the office? So why are you here?" asked Belle."I was at a site examination of a building that the Page Corporation is considering for purchase. I just came across what Scott had posted on social media."I met him by chance," explained Belle."I know."A message from Hunter popped up on Grayson's phone as he started the car."Mr. Grayson, the painting of the tomb is almost finished. But I noticed some problems. Do you have time to come and take a look?"Grayson finished reading the message and turned to look at Belle.She was fastening her seatbelt and had yet to notice the message."I'll be the
Belle held herself back from slapping Colette right then and there as she didn't want to cause a scene inside the office and cause problems for Grayson or the Page Corporation.She didn't want to waste everyone's time and call for the police, so she just turned around to look at the security guards at the door."The two of you, please escort her to the police station. She's making up rumors and trying to cause trouble in the company."The two security guards were stunned for a second before rushing over.Although they didn't know what exactly the relationship between Grayson and Belle was, they knew that they were at the least very close.Everyone who could work for the Page Corporation was an astute person.They had also noticed how well Sam had treated Belle—with more enthusiasm than when Sam was dealing with the directors of other companies.Sam was one of Grayson's closest confidants, and anyone he would treat warmly would surely not be just an ordinary employee.They'd als
Belle reassured Ginger. "What she says doesn't matter. You have nothing to be afraid of so long as you're innocent. Don't worry about it!"Ginger wore a frown, her expression carrying a mix of emotions. It was as if something long-buried in her mind had been brought to the surface by others, now subject to criticism.She had never dared to think too much about Henrietta and her parent's death.Whenever she tried to contemplate their deaths, fear easily overcame her. In response, she decided to bury their passing deep within her heart, never to speak of it again.Belle noticed her nervousness and poured her a cup of warm water. "Drink some water and calm down, okay?"Ginger took the cup and drank half of it in one gulp before looking at Belle with reddened eyes."Belle, do you think Henrietta and my parent's deaths are really just accidents?"Recognizing Ginger's ongoing guilt, Belle remembered their conversations when Ginger initially cried to her about the matter following her
Ginger surmised, "Most likely, but you can't rule out the possibility that she's only here just to prepare herself for inheriting her family business one day."Belle pouted and replied, "I'll let her be if she's really just here to sharpen her skills. But I won't go easy on her if she's here to steal my man.""Mr. Page only has eyes for you and you alone. You don't have to worry about that," replied Ginger."I'm not worried about it. But I'm sure she would be coming out of the police station and back to the office in no time. Don't be afraid of her if she tries to bully you again, okay? She may have her family backing her up, but you have us backing you up!""It's good to have you as my friend."Belle smiled. "Let's go and buy something to eat. We can always cheer up with something sweet. It's my treat!"Ginger finally laughed as she wiped her tears. "Does it count as skipping work if we go out now?""Nope, it counts as approved leave! I brought you out for official business, an
"I just feel like she's in danger," replied Hunter.Grayson paused before replying, "I'll keep her safe no matter what."Hunter continued, "Just let me know if you need my help! At least when it comes to researching tombs, I'd do my best for Ms. Belle's sake!"Grayson glanced at Hunter, unable to shake the suspicion that he might have been intentionally introduced to Belle to assist with the tomb's connection to her.After a moment of silence, Grayson asked, "Has the person who reached out to you last time made contact again?"Hunter immediately caught on to Grayson's reference to the contact who had shared information about Belle's capability to keep his father alive. Shaking his head, he responded, "He hasn't contacted me again since that moment."Grayson wasn't surprised by the reply and merely acknowledged with a hum. If that person's only goal was to bring Hunter to Belle, then he had already achieved his goal.Hunter had become Belle's close friend, someone she deeply care
Colette asked, "What else should I be thinking about?"Lucas was not amused. "Have you been studying for nothing?"Colette was left speechless."They still gave you a hard time after knowing about your identity because Belle is even scarier than I am," explained Lucas.Colette's eyes widened in shock. "What's so scary about Belle? I've already gone through her background, and she's just some country bumpkin from the mountains. She'd be nothing if not for her grandfather accidentally saving Mr. Page Senior's life once. How could she even compare?"Lucas frowned as he looked at her. "Colette, do you know why I've favored you over all your brothers and sisters? That's because you're the smartest one of them all. But I'm very, very disappointed with what you did today."Colette frowned. "Grandpa …""Tell me the truth. Why did you apply to work for the Page Corporation as a receptionist? Is it really for work? Or is it for something else?"Noticing her silence, he continued, "I was
Belle playfully reached for Sixteen again. "Come here!"Sixteen barked back, seemingly firm in his stance. "I'll cry if you don't come here, okay?" Belle then held her face in her hands and pretended to cry.Sixteen immediately calmed down as it nudged Belle's hands with its paws, trying to comfort her. Belle broke character, revealing a grin. "Are you still mad at me?"Sixteen, appeased, finally got into her arms and launched into enthusiastic licks.Grayson watched the exchange with a hint of envy. "Hey, Sixteen!"Sixteen whimpered and offered Grayson a sheepish look.Belle scolded, "Why are you scolding Sixteen? You're a bad guy!"She then petted Sixteen on its head and stood up. "Let's go! We'll get something tasty to eat! Just ignore him, okay?"Grayson was left speechless. He felt defeated by the pet dog as he watched Belle and Sixteen skip and hop into the house.Meredith had already finished preparing dinner when they arrived. She put on a gentle smile as she watched Belle
After returning to the house, Ava asked, "Why did Xenia go crazy? Wasn't she fine not long ago?"Lena wiped her hands and handed the towel back to Ava. "Someone drugged her and induced hallucinations of her worst fears. She's been on the edge ever since. After all, she did commit all sorts of misdeeds." "Someone?""Belle Walters."Ava was shocked. "Why would Belle drug Xenia?"Ava and Lena had been moving from place to place, seeking a safe hideout ever since they picked up Xenia. They had only found a relatively safe place today, so Ava finally had the chance to inquire about the details.Lena shot her a look of disgust and proceeded to ignore her question.Ava dared not press further and changed the topic. "Now that Xenia's lost her mind, can we still get her to talk?"Lena continued to ignore her and went to scribble down a prescription. She had spent the entire day with Xenia in the basement but hadn't managed to extract any useful information from her. Ava sheepishly c
Meanwhile, Ginger, too, was grappling with confusion. She'd also offered Hunter money, only to be stunned into silence by the astronomical sum in his bank statement. Compared to him, she was practically penniless. The largest amount she'd ever held was a few million Gabriel had won in the lottery—a drop in the bucket compared to Hunter's wealth."Why do you think Mr. Sanders was so wealthy?" Ginger queried, seeking Gabriel's insight.Gabriel was similarly grappling with confusion and remained quiet. However, he was preoccupied with a different mystery. His mind was consumed by the deaths of Penny and Terry. He had taken time to visit the corpses and noted the peculiarity surrounding their deaths. Their autopsies revealed unusual injuries that baffled forensics.Both victims, young adults in their prime, looked as if they'd been scared to death.Aware of Hunter's ties to the Nightwalkers, Gabriel wasn't surprised by the inheritance. Compared to the wealth amassed during the Sanders f
Belle pondered aloud, "While Hunter isn't as averse to exploring tombs as Benjamin, they share a similar disposition. Otherwise, with his expertise, he could easily be making a fortune.""The Sanders ancestors might not have been saints," Grayson conceded, "but perhaps Hunter's grandfather started a positive trend. Like Benjamin, he likely tried to shield Hunter from their legacy. A truly evil man couldn't have raised such a kind son."As Benjamin grew, he remained kind-hearted despite his timidity. And now, Hunter has grown into an upright, kind, and courageous young man. His talent for exploration makes him the pride of his lineage."Belle nodded and sighed. "Money is crucial for a comfortable life today. With what Hunter has, financial worries shouldn't trouble him. He'll be well provided for."Grayson pulled her into his arms and responded, "Don't fret. While Hunter may still be in school, he's mature for his age. He can take care of himself just fine."Belle leaned onto his s
Hunter crouched by the bed, methodically clearing away the books until a single floor tile lay exposed. Prying it open revealed a dark hole just big enough for one person. Grabbing a flashlight, he squeezed through the narrow opening and emerged into a moderately sized room of perhaps about 130 square feet. Wooden boxes, weathered with age and adorned with simple designs, filled the space.Hunter made a beeline for a particular box, brushing off the dust before prying it open. The wooden box was filled to the brim with notebooks. Hunter sat down on the floor, picked up one of the books, and started reading it.This hidden chamber and its contents were discovered by a young Hunter, seemingly guided by destiny. Hunter's father, Benjamin, had buried them, driven by a desire to safeguard their knowledge from Hunter's curious gaze. Fear had gripped Benjamin after learning about the Sanders family's history, the expertise that had seemingly drawn them toward a dangerous path. He
Nora let out a long sigh. "It's fine. Just keep it with you! I don't really need the money right away or anything. Besides, an old woman like me won't be spending much in town even if I tried."Hunter stopped Nora as she was about to leave and took a wad of money from his bag. "I have 20,000 dollars right here. It's far from the actual price, but you can keep it for now. I'll pay you the rest when I can."Nora was stunned. "Where did you get so much money?""It's the money I gathered from donations for the funeral, mostly from Ms. Belle and Mr. Grayson.""Oh, that makes sense. Here I was, wondering how you managed to get such a huge amount from donations. I can tell your friends are really kind-hearted people. You should treat them just as well as they treat you, okay? Study hard and make a name for yourself, and then you'll be able to properly repay their kindness.""Yeah, I know. Anyway, the gold nugget weighs slightly over 17 ounces. So, its worth is about 37,500 dollars. I'll pay y
As the final step of the funeral, the townsfolk gathered for a meal after Benjamin's burial. After Benjamin was buried, Belle and Ginger approached Hunter, inquiring about his plans for the future. Belle expressed her desire for Hunter to stay with her and Grayson, mentioning that their house had plenty of spare rooms. The only drawback would be that it was quite the distance from his school, but they could always arrange a driver for him.Ginger also invited Hunter to stay with her and Gabriel as their house had just finished with renovations. They also had a spare room for Hunter if he were to join their house.Hunter was genuinely touched by their offers, but he still declined them both. "I'd like to stay in my school's hostel for now. I'll think about what to do next when I graduate."Belle and Ginger recognized that they couldn't sway Hunter's decision, so they ceased their attempts to pressure him into making a choice."If you run out of space for your belongings, you ca
Hunter detailed, "I recall every person who came to offer prayers for my father... However, it was during my trip to the restroom that the dogs began barking. Upon my return, I spotted some unfamiliar footprints. Without seeing anyone there, I dismissed it. But upon hearing about Penny and Terry's deaths this morning, I began to connect the dots..."Both Gabriel and Grayson were left speechless.Gabriel exchanged a glance with Grayson before turning back to Hunter. "So, you're suggesting that the stranger who came to town also visited your house to pray for your father before departing to exact revenge on Penny and Terry for Mr. Sanders' death?""Yes.""Why didn't he meet you then?""I don't know.""Any other suspects you have in mind?"Hunter shook his head. "My father and I don't have friends other than you guys. It's just the two of us for as long as I can remember.""Could it be someone else from the Sanders family?" asked Gabriel."I don't think so. I'm an only child, and
Belle, Ginger, and the rest of the group arrived at 8:00 am. They noticed the crowd alongside police cars at the entrance to the town. The two of them then squeezed through the crowd to make it to the house as soon as they could. "What happened, Hunter?"The policemen were stunned by their sudden arrival. "Who are you?""We're Hunter's friends. You can tell us about what happened."Hunter's eyes gleamed with hope as he greeted them. "Ms. Belle and Ms. Ginger!"Grayson's car stopped in front of the town alongside a truck filled with equipment for the funeral.Without Belle and Grayson's friendship, Hunter would have had to manage all the funeral arrangements alone, and he wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Ginger.Sam remained outside to stand guard while Grayson and Gabriel entered the Sanders family's old home.The townsfolk and the police were shocked when they saw them.They didn't recognize Grayson or Gabriel, but they could tell at a glance that they were really special peo