Chapter 265: Taking the Blade

James's gaze had been locked on Sophia the entire time.

He watched her smoothly work the room, exchanging pleasantries with several senior business figures. Her expression remained composed, yet there was an edge to her that was impossible to ignore.

He let out a quiet breath.

His feet shifted forward half a step before he forced himself to stop.

He knew exactly what Sophia thought of him now.

He knew that every time he got close, he only drove her further away.

And after everything he'd done in his past life—God, even thinking about it now made him sick with shame.

Just then, movement caught his eye. A man in a server's uniform was pushing a cart through the side entrance of the banquet hall.

The man kept his face partially turned away, but James recognized him instantly.

Christopher.

James's heart lurched.

What the hell was Christopher doing here? Wasn't he still in lockup?

Before James could process it, Christopher had already melted into the crowd and vanished from sight.

James couldn't afford to hesitate anymore. He pushed through the guests in front of him and headed straight for Sophia.

Sophia had just started looking for Clara when she spotted James cutting through the crowd toward her.

The polite smile dropped from her face immediately.

"Sophia, wait!" James closed the distance in a few strides and reached for her wrist.

Sophia's body went rigid. She yanked her hand back. "James, what the hell are you doing? I'm warning you—stay away from me!"

"It's not safe here. You need to come with me!" James didn't let go. His grip only tightened.

Panic bled through his voice. "Christopher's here. He snuck into the banquet hall, and you're his target!"

Sophia let out a bitter laugh. The look she gave him was pure scorn. "James, you're actually stooping to making up stories now?"

"Christopher's still locked up. There's no way he could be here. I think you've completely lost it."

"I'm not making this up. I just saw him with my own eyes. He's wearing a server's uniform and he's somewhere in this room!" James's voice went tight with urgency. His hand wouldn't budge from her wrist.

"There are too many people here, too much chaos—he could be hiding anywhere. Come with me somewhere safe. I've already had Mark alert security!"

"Let go." Sophia's expression turned to ice. "James, I'm telling you one last time—let go of my hand. Or I won't be polite about it."

"I won't let go." James's grip stayed firm. "Even if you want to slap me, even if you hate me more after this, I can't leave you here alone. I have to keep you safe."

"I have people keeping me safe. I don't need you playing hero!" Sophia's jaw clenched. Her free hand was already rising, the movement sharp with anger. "Primrose is nearby, and Calvin too. The people around me are a hell of a lot more reliable than you! James, stop making a scene!"

She wrenched hard and finally broke free.

Sophia glanced down at her wrist with disgust, not wanting to spare him another look. She turned to find Primrose.

The truth was, she'd already started to believe him.

She knew James wouldn't lie about something like this.

There was blood between her and Christopher, and he was in Sullivan's pocket too. Once those two joined forces, she knew exactly what they were capable of.

While she'd been making small talk earlier, she'd felt eyes on her the whole time, but she'd brushed it off. Now that James had confirmed it, cold dread washed down her spine.

Her steps didn't slow. She just needed to find Primrose and Clara quickly, get Clara somewhere safe, then deal with Christopher.

But she'd barely taken two steps when she collided head-on with someone coming straight at her.

Christopher stared at Sophia right in front of him, and a twisted grin spread across his face. In his hand, he clutched a syringe that caught the light with a cold gleam.

He snarled, "Sophia! Perfect timing! Go to hell!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, he lunged at her, the syringe aimed viciously at her neck.

Sophia's eyes went wide. It felt like all the blood in her body had turned to ice.

She tried to step back instinctively, but Christopher was too fast and too close. There was nowhere to go. She could only watch as the needle came closer and closer to her skin.

In that split second, a figure burst forward from behind her, yanked her backward, and threw himself between them.

A soft, sickening sound.

The needle drove deep into James's shoulder.

"James!"

Sophia's throat felt like it was being ripped open. Staring at the man shielding her, her mind went completely blank. She lost all control and screamed his name.

She snapped back to herself, lifted her leg, and kicked Christopher in the chest with everything she had.

Christopher flew backward from the blow, his body slamming into the cart behind him. Plates and wine glasses crashed to the floor and shattered.

The guests around them erupted into chaos. Screams rang out as people scattered in every direction.

Calvin and several security personnel rushed over immediately. Primrose came running from the dessert table area. Together, they wrestled Christopher to the ground and pinned him there.

Christopher thrashed beneath them, still struggling wildly. He lifted his head to look at Sophia and broke into unhinged laughter.

Sophia didn't spare him a glance. She reached out to steady James's swaying body.

James's face had gone visibly pale. Cold sweat was already beading on his forehead. "Sophia, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm asking if YOU'RE okay!" Sophia's voice shook uncontrollably. She reached toward his shoulder. "James, are you out of your mind?! Do you have a death wish?!"

James managed a faint smile. He shook his head gently. "I'm fine. As long as you're okay."

"Fine? Ha! How could he be fine!" Christopher, still pinned to the floor, heard this and burst into hysterical laughter again. His eyes gleamed with savage satisfaction. "That was high-concentration cyanide! Even God himself couldn't save him now!"

"Sophia, even if you dodged it this time, you still have to watch James die in your place! This is what you owe the Johnson family!"

The word "cyanide" hit Sophia's consciousness like a sledgehammer.

The color drained from her face in seconds. She felt the blood in her veins slowly turning to ice.

She stared at the puncture wound on James's shoulder, her body trembling uncontrollably. She couldn't form a coherent thought—only one remained: he's going to die.

"Quick! Someone call 911! We need an ambulance! Now!" Sophia suddenly came to life and screamed at everyone around her. Her voice cracked.

Calvin immediately pulled out his phone, dialed emergency services, and rapidly gave the address and situation.

Primrose picked up the syringe from the floor and examined the barrel. She let out a small breath of relief.

"It's okay. Not much got injected."