Maximus stood motionless, watching his father climb into the ambulance that carried his poisoned sister. The house was in complete chaos—a poisoning in their own home seemed beyond impossible. Thoughts raced through Maximus’s mind, but the one that stood out was simple: how could this have happened?
Maximus closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and replayed the events of the dinner in his head. The poisoning must have occurred during the dinner party, likely toward the end, given the nature of the toxin. He exhaled slowly and began to carefully analyze the incident, starting with Isabella’s wine ritual. Nothing had seemed out of place, except for one small detail—Isabella had run out of wine before pouring the last glass.
Isabella, a member of a prominent winery family, was exceptionally
