?Chapter 288:


    The horror twisted deeper in his gut. Who could have nned something like this? Who had the patience to wait decades just to spring the trap?


    Christina’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Miss Hubbard’s mysterious disappearance back then… And her recent ‘return’ to the Hubbard family—it was all part of the n. You see that now, don’t you?”


    Elliott gave a slow, grim nod. “Yeah. After everything you’ve said, I pieced it together. I just never imagined someone would bide their time for so long, all to set up this inescapable trap.”


    He couldn’t even fathom what would’ve happened if he hadn’t met Christina—or if he hadn’t invited her to today’s party. What fate would have awaited the Hubbard family? Maybe one day, their tragic death would have ended up in the headlines. His mind painted the nightmare headline: “Hubbard Heiress Goes Mad—Murders Entire Family in Cold Blood, NO Survivors.” That would’ve been their legacy. The proud Hubbard name would have been wiped from Dorfield forever, only remembered in whispered rumors and crime documentaries. No one would ever know the truth.


    Christina broke the silence. “The couple who had raised Miss Hubbard… They’re dead, aren’t they?”


    Elliott’s jaw clenched. “Yeah. They drowned. The report said one slipped in, the other tried to help, and both died. Not long after that, we ‘miraculously’ found my sister again.” He let out a bitter chuckle. “The couple were horrible people and treated my sister like trash. We thought their deaths were just karma finally catching up with them.” His face darkened. “But now? Now I’m sure they were murdered. It was all staged so my sister would be ‘discovered’ by us. That way, when the poison drove her to madness, she’d be right there to ughter us all.”


    Christina’s tone turned grave. “You need to stay alert. They’re in the shadows. And you… you’re standing in the light.”


    Elliott let out a sharp breath. “From now on, I’ll personally oversee everything my sister eats and drinks.”


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    Christina shook her head. “That won’t solve the problem. I originally nned to tell you about the poisoning in secret, but after today’s emergency—having to drain Miss Hubbard’s poisoned blood—whoever’s behind this definitely knows we’re onto them.”


    “If you personally take over Miss Hubbard’s meals, whoever’s behind this will realize you suspect there’s a mole in the Hubbard family,” Christina warned, letting her words hang for a moment. “That’ll spook them. They’ll start covering their tracks—and we’ll lose our only lead. Since we’re still in the dark, let’s not rush into anything. Just act like everything’s perfectly normal.”


    Elliott’s jaw clenched, worry creasing his forehead. “But what about my sister…”


    “Trust me,” Christina cut in softly, her tone steady and assured. “I might have a way to handle this, but you have to let me take the lead.”


    Elliott didn’t hesitate as he pressed. “What’s your n?”


    Christina began to speak, but her phone suddenly buzzed, interrupting her mid-sentence.


    Elliott nodded, waving a hand. “Take it. We’ll pick this up after.”


    “Okay,” she replied, checking the caller ID. Seeing Chloe’s name sh across the screen, she pressed answer without dy. Chloe’s panicked voice erupted through the speaker, raw and urgent. “Christina! Something awful just happened! My brother…”


    A chill shot straight through Christina’s chest, an icy knot of dread tightening in her stomach. “What’s going on?” she demanded, her tone sharp with rm as her brow furrowed deeper.


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