?Chapter 287:


    “It’s about the poison in your sister’s system.” Christina’s brow furrowed. “This toxin can be either slow-acting or fast-acting, depending on the dosage.”


    A chill ran down Elliott’s spine. “You mean someone’s still poisoning her even after she reconnected with us?”


    Christina met his eyes. “Yes, but it’s only a theory. From now on, you need to monitor everything she eats or drinks.”


    “Understood. I’ll tell my parents—we’ll rece every staff member in this estate,” Elliott said.


    “That’s not advisable,” Christina’s voice was firm. “That’ll only tip off the culprit. Besides, even if you bring in new staff, there’s no guarantee they won’t be bribed.”


    Elliott frowned deeply. “You’re right. Still, rooting out the traitor won’t be easy. And what if something happens to my sister before we do?” His thoughts raced, faces shing through his mind—each one now a suspect.


    “If the poison in Miss Hubbard’s system activates, she won’t be the only one who will meet her end. You’ll all be dragged down,” Christina said, her expression solemn with the gravity of the situation.


    Elliott froze. “What do you mean?”


    “This poison, when used in small doses, doesn’t just destroy the body. It breaks the mind slowly. By the time it reaches its peak, it causes violent psychosis—hallucinations, delusions, and deep paranoia. When that happens, Miss Hubbard will see her loved ones as enemies. And the closer they are to her, the more monstrous they appear in her eyes.” Christina paused, her tone grim. “She’ll try to eliminate you all. If the poison is used as a fast-acting toxin, it won’t cause those effects. But it’ll lead to instant death. And it can be detected by medical tests.”


    Christina paused for a moment before continuing, her voice steady. “When this poison is used as a slow-acting toxin, the victim won’t die right away as it takes full effect, but there’s no saving them. The horror is in what happens next. The victims turn on their loved ones, kill everyone close to them, and then, once it’s done, they regain rity. That’s when the real nightmare begins.”


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    Christina looked straight at Elliott. “Most can’t live with what they’ve done. Some copse on the spot. Others take their own lives. By then, the poison is gone, undetectable. When the police investigate, they will find nothing but a brutal massacre and a trail that points to the victims. With Miss Hubbard’s history of hallucinations and mental episodes, she will be seen as insane once the poison in her system takes full effect, and the case will be closed. The masterminds behind the scenes will just walk away scot-free, getting exactly what they wanted.”


    Elliott’s heart dropped. His mind reeled. He stared at Christina, stunned. “Are you saying the real target was never just my sister? They were after the entire Hubbard family from the very beginning?”


    Elliott felt a chill go down his spine. Whoever was behind this wasn’t just ruthless—they were meticulous, patient, and terrifyingly calcting. If the poison had been used to wipe out every member of the Hubbard family at once, it would’ve caused a scandal. The mastermind might not have gotten what they wanted.


    But this slow-burn n that dragged on for over twenty years was genius-level evil. The mastermind ensured the poison simmered unnoticed, letting the perfect scapegoat fall into ce, and then just watched the Hubbard family tear itself apart when the time was right. No one would suspect that Eloise’s violent outburst was caused by poisoning. Instead, it would be written off as madness. Another tragedy. Another broken mind lost to history.


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