Chapter 436 Perilous Crisis
James froze, his scalp prickling as he tried to wrap his head around how Bruce and the others could've been poisoned.
He wanted to ask more questions, but all he could hear was Coralie's groaning, too pained to say anything else.
He knew that sound—it was stomach pain.
Without another word, he told the driver to head straight to Swan Villa.
Half an hour later, the taxi screeched to a stop at the villa's entrance. James tossed a hundred-dollar bill to the driver and bolted inside.
"Uncle Bruce, Uncle Bruce! What's happening?"
No one answered.
James flicked on the lights in the hall, revealing five people sprawled across the floor near the dining table.
Bruce, his family of three, Ian, and Yara lay there, faces pale, blood trickling from their noses, not moving, a dire scene.
"What the hell happened?"
James's mind raced as he rushed to check on Bruce and the others, quickly realizing they were indeed poisoned.
The poison was like snowflakes—cold and invasive. It was slow but relentless, attacking the internal organs.
This was definitely not food poisoning; someone had deliberately poisoned them, or it wouldn't be this severe.
Just then, Bruce's body convulsed, and he coughed up more blood.
His face darkened even more.
James's heart pounded as he quickly pulled out five Toxiclear Elixirs he always carried, giving them to Bruce with warm water.
As soon as Bruce swallowed the medicine, he let out a muffled groan, his body convulsing violently, spewing more blood. His breathing became rapid.
"Uncle Bruce! Uncle Bruce!" James's voice shook with fear, almost breaking down.
How could this be happening?
He grabbed Bruce's wrist again, shocked to find that after taking the medicine, the poison in Bruce's body was racing toward his heart.
The heart, a symbol of warmth, should've been a place this cold poison feared, especially with the Toxiclear Elixir protecting it. The poison should've spread more slowly, yet it was attacking the heart like a moth to a flame.
This was something James hadn't anticipated, and he realized with a chill that this poison seemed almost sentient, as if someone had studied his Toxiclear Elixir.
But now wasn't the time to ponder this.
If the cold poison reached the heart, Bruce would be beyond saving, no matter how skilled the doctor.
James wanted to use the Life Gem to heal Bruce but found it had been entirely used on Matilda.
He had no choice but to use acupuncture to treat Bruce.
Dozens of silver needles danced under James's skilled hands.
As the needles vibrated, seven red lines appeared on Bruce's body. These lines slowly converged, eventually flowing toward the bladder.
James took out a three-edged bloodletting needle, quickly pricking the two bulging veins.
As the needle pierced, foul-smelling blood gushed from Bruce's stomach area.
James wiped it with a tissue and tossed it into the trash to burn.
Bruce's condition improved.
James didn't stop, helping Bruce onto the couch before moving on to detoxify Coralie and the others.
Three hours later, James finally neutralized the poison in all five, pulling Coralie and the others back from the brink of death.
But he was utterly exhausted.
Just then, another call came in. James answered, hearing Seraphina's urgent voice, "President Williams, something's wrong. Kaitlyn was filming half an hour ago and was suddenly kidnapped by someone driving a prop car."
She sounded frantic. "I thought it was part of the scene, but the car never came back."
"What?" James was shocked. "Kaitlyn's in trouble too?"
He was about to call for help when he realized something.
Coralie had been poisoned. She should've called the hospital first, so why did she call him for help? She didn't know he could treat illnesses.
Clearly, someone had coerced her into doing so.
Thinking of the cold poison in Bruce and the others, James felt a chill run down his spine.
There was an enemy lurking in the house, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
James instinctively took a step back.
Almost at the same time, Marshall emerged from the shadows, his right hand shooting out to hit James square in the chest.
The attack was brutal, meant to take James down in one blow.
James couldn't dodge in time, so he raised his arms to block, but Marshall's strike sent him flying.
His arms throbbed with pain, his blood churned, and he hit the ground with a grunt, almost coughing up blood.
Detoxifying Bruce and the others had drained most of James's energy.
"I thought you'd put up more of a fight, but you're nothing," Marshall sneered, closing in on James. "Looks like Rowan and the others overestimated you."
He looked at James like a cat toying with a mouse. "Your medical skills are impressive, but once you're dead, they're useless."
"Blood Medical Sect, huh?" James scoffed. "You guys are scum, using Uncle Bruce's family like that."
"Do you forget that Kaitlyn?"
Just then, a screen in the hall flickered on, showing Aurelia on a boat. Alongside her and a few members of the Wolf Business Association was a familiar face—Kaitlyn.
She was in a gown, tied up, gagged, and secured to a chair.
James's face darkened. "Aurelia, if you've got a problem with me, take it out on me. Leave Kaitlyn out of this. Have some decency."
Aurelia laughed. "I am being decent. Otherwise, I won't let you see her."
James shouted, "She's innocent!"
"Innocent or not, doesn't matter. What's important is that she can be used to threaten you."
Aurelia spoke casually. "I was worried Bruce's family wouldn't be enough leverage, so I brought her in as a bargaining chip."
"She's a member of the Smith Clan, Mary's sister." James's voice was filled with menace. "Aren't you afraid of provoking the Smith Clan with such shamelessness?"
"I know she's from the Smith Clan, but with thousands of members, they can't possibly keep track of everyone." Aurelia laughed. "Mary is untouchable, but Kaitlyn holds no weight with the Smith Clan."
Clearly, she had done her homework on Mary and the others.
James's voice dropped. "If you harm Kaitlyn, I'll tear down the entire Wolf Club, and even Micah will pay the price."
"Trying to scare me? I'm so frightened, I need a slap to calm down."
Aurelia feigned panic, then slapped Kaitlyn across the face.
A sharp sound echoed, leaving a handprint on Kaitlyn's cheek.
The gag flew from Kaitlyn's mouth, and she screamed, calling out to James, "James, don't worry about me—"
Aurelia slapped her again, cutting off her words.
James clenched his fists. "Aurelia, you're dead."
Kaitlyn struggled to speak, "I'm fine, I'm fine, I'll be okay, don't worry about me..."
She was smart, reminding James not to lose his cool. She still had value, and Aurelia wouldn't dare kill her.
"Once this show is over, you'll see if you're okay." Aurelia caressed Kaitlyn's face, her smile playful.
"Mr. Banks, make sure to leave James alive. You like beautiful women, don't you? This Kaitlyn is quite the looker, perfect for some fun."
"And..." she paused deliberately, "doing it in front of James will surely add a special flavor."
Aurelia's henchmen laughed wickedly.
Marshall nodded slightly. "That's a good suggestion."
James's killing intent intensified. "Aurelia, if Kaitlyn suffers even a scratch, I'll wipe out your entire family and your association."
Aurelia grabbed Kaitlyn's head, slamming it against the railing.
Kaitlyn let out a muffled groan, a red mark appearing on her forehead.
The coffee incident, Black Wolf's death, the disappearance of the snow child, the auction humiliation, and the blood toad being cooked had made Aurelia hate James to the core.
"I hurt her, so what? What can you do about it?" Aurelia looked at James arrogantly. "Come and kill me if you can."
Hearing Kaitlyn's scream, James's eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
In that moment of distraction, Marshall's aura surged, and he launched himself at James.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
