Jack leaned back in his chair, smirking like a predator who''d already caught his prey.


    "You might as well start stripping, you broke bastard. Once that wine master shows up, you''re gonna be running down the street butt-naked. And if you don''t, I''ll make sure you limp for the rest of your life."


    Alex let out a dryugh.


    "You really shouldn''t count your chickens before they hatch. It''s embarrassing watching you gloat this early."


    Before Jack could retort, the front door burst open.


    A man in a crisp business suit hurried in, breathless.


    "I hear there''s an old bottle of wine waiting to be tested," he dered, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    "Master Jude! You made it," Jack said, beckoning him over. "Thanks for dashing right over. I need you to confirm something


    for me."


    But Jude didn''t spare Jack more than a quick nce.


    He spotted the open bottles on the table and strode straight to them.


    "Is that a 2005 Romanée-Conti? That''s at least a hundred grand a pop, right?"


    Jack puffed out his chest. "Bingo. Brought in by Marco here-only the best, of course!"


    Florence fussed over Marco, batting hershes.


    "What a gentleman, bringing us such a gra


    gift. Not like some folks who show up with gutter-grade poison."


    "Poison?" Jude repeated, his brows knitting together.


    Florence pointed at a nearly transparent wine in a ss. "That dirty scoundrel brought this swill, probably hoping we''d all drop dead."


    Jack rolled his eyes dramatically.


    "We''re lucky we noticed before anyone drank it. God knows what that lunatic might''ve done to us."


    Ignoring their cries, Jude picked up the ss, swirled it, gave it a sniff, then downed the whole thing in one shot.


    Immediately, his eyes seemed to spark with excitement.


    "Master Jude, what are you doing?!" Jack yelped, nearly tripping over himself. "That stuff could kill you!"


    Instead of choking, Jude looked downright euphoric.


    "Kill me? Don''t be ridiculous. This is exquisite-smooth, velvety, with a final kick that lingers. Definitely not fake. This is the real deal: a priceless aged wine." The room fell silent.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me," Jack said, mouth agape. "It''s practically see- through! How can that be legit?”


    Florence jabbed a finger at the ss. "Don''t lie to us, Master Jude. That''s got ''forged'' written all over it!"


    "Let me see that bottle." Jude''s voice was calm but firm. When Jack handed it over, Jude''s hands shook as he read thebel.


    "Romanée-Conti, 1945... Are you kidding me? The legendary vintage itself."


    "What?" The entire family turned ghostly pale.


    "You''re all familiar with the story of 1945 Romanée-Conti, right? Jude continued, ncing around the table..


    Itwas the final year before the vineyard was uprooted to fight off phylloxera. Only 600 bottles were ever produced. Most of then were either drunk or went missing over the decades. It''s the Holy Grail of wines."


    The rest of the room started to realize the gravity of their usation.


    They''d basicallybeled a masterpiece worthless trash.


    "I was lucky enough to taste a sip of this s once,"


    Jude


    arties gener hundredth biru. As though savoring the memory.


    getting a full ss. The vors... they''re out of this world."


    "How much is it worth?" Jack asked, suddenly look


    Even that single mouthful was unforgettable. And now here I am,


    almost fearful.


    "Honestly, it''s beyond mary value at this point. Nobody''s selling, and serious collectors would pay a fortune. But if you twisted my arm, I''d say upwards of a million or two on the auction circuit."


    "Two million dors?" someone choke 100


    You could''ve heard a pin drop. Marco''s precious hundred-grand bottle


    as instantly overshadowed.


    Florence''s jaw tightened. "How on earth could Alex possibly afford something like that? Master Jude, are you absolutely sure


    about this?"


    "Yeah!" Jack barked.


    "The guy can barely scrape together bus fare. Where would he get two million


    bucks for a bottle of wine? This all sounds like some big scam."


    "Easy there," Jude said, raising a hand. "I only know what''s in the bottle, not how he got it." He turned to Alex.


    Alex shrugged. "A friend of mine gave it to


    Florence glowered at him like he was?


    you lying thief."


    me.''


    "1


    a cockroach. "Sure, a ''friend handed it over just like that. Sounds more like you


    stole it,


    Jack, who had been salivating at the prospect of seeing Alex humiliated,tched onto this new angle with gusto.


    "I knew it! Why else would you shou


    up with the world''s rarest wine, if not to pretend you''re something special?


    Marco folded his arms, feigning concern. "Stealing a wine like this couldnd you


    in prison for more than a decade, Alex. Was showing off really worth it?"


    Alex gave them all a tired look.


    "Believe whatever nonsense you want. It''s for Granddad Abraham to enjoy, not any of you. Funny how you all called it pig swill five minutes ago, but now you''re so sure it must be stolen."


    "Don''t you twist our words!" Florence hissed. "It''s one or the other: you faked it, or you stole it!"


    Alex rolled his eyes. “That''s enough drama for one night.”


    Abraham set his fork down with a loud clink.


    "I''ll have no more of this. I trust Alex. This wine is his gift to me, and I will happily drink it. If anyone can''t handle that, they can leave my table right now."


    ''But Granddad-" Jack started, only to stop short when he saw Abraham''s re. The old man was done ying around. "All right, all of you," Abrahammanded, voice rumbling with inality. "Sit down and eat. Now."


    Grudgingly, they obeyed.


    Even Florence and Jack, who looked like they''d swallowed something sour, shut their mouths.


    Master Jude surveyed the room, then abruptly fished a small wine sk from his pocket and gulped down whatever was inside.


    Without missing a beat, he fixed the group with an almost desperate look.


    "Would it be alright if I took just a little of that wine home?" he asked, hope shining


    in his eyes.


    Before Alex could even respond, Jude eximed, "Thanks!"


    He hastily filled his sk from the rare bottle, then bolted out the door like a man who''d justid hands on pure gold.


    Momentster, dinner finallymenced.


    Each of them-despite having called Alex every insult under the sun-poured themselves a taste of his incredible vintage. Even the non-drinkers couldn''t pass


    up the chance to sample a wine that might be worth two million dors.


    Alex looked on, incredulous at their shamelessness.


    "They love to mock, but the truth, they will steal in silence.''


    But he kept his mouth shut.


    -no matter


    One thing became crystal clear tonight: some folks are so hell-bent on hating


    you, they''ll never swallow the truth-how wless the wine or delicious it tastes on their tongue.


    Unknown to other, Marco''s gaze hardened, turning downright predatory in an


    instant


    He''d sweetened the pot for the Lancasters, reeling them in with every calcted word and gesture.


    Now came the moment to set the hook for these gullible fools who believed in him


    so blindly. 2