Charlie stole a glance at Loreen, holding back his thoughts. ‘You’ve always looked down on me. What’s the use of revealing my true self? It will only complicate things for both of us.’

With that, he resolved to keep his identity a secret.

His decision to rescue her was motivated by his beloved wife Claire, not because he harbored any special feelings for Loreen.

Loreen, sensing his silence, recognized that Charlie was reluctant to disclose who he was. She decided against pressing him for answers.

Despite this, Loreen had a strong, independent nature and refused to rely on men under any circumstances. She felt both awkward and unsettled for not being able to express her gratitude for his assistance.

As she opened her mouth to ask again, a rough, cold voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Take off your pants.”

Loreen’s eyes widened in shock. She felt a wave of shame and agitation wash over her as she noticed the masked man’s gaze sweeping over her body.

She had thought she had escaped a dangerous situation, only to find herself ensnared in another!

Looking around, she realized she was in a desolate place, and with his skills and strength, no one would hear her cries for help.

In a state of desperation, Loreen clenched her teeth and warned fiercely, “Don’t even think about touching me! I refuse to be victimized by anyone! I would rather die than let you harm me!”

Charlie was taken aback by her fierce rejection. He softened his tone and pointed to her leg, saying, “The stab wound on your hamstring is dangerously close to the aorta. If it’s not treated quickly, you could suffer severe damage. If I take you to the hospital before stopping the bleeding, you’ll lose too much blood, and it will be too late. What do you think I should do?”

Loreen stared at him, astonished, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson.

She had initially thought he intended to assault her, but…

Charlie let out a quiet sigh as he observed Loreen’s bewildered expression.

Clearing her throat, Loreen asked hesitantly, “C-Can you help me stop the bleeding?”

Charlie nodded, “Yes, I’ve studied traditional Chinese medicine and can apply acupuncture techniques to halt the bleeding and lessen the injury. Then you’ll have enough time to get to the hospital for further treatment.”

“Th… thank you,” Loreen replied softly, her face as red as a ripe tomato.

She glanced at her wound, feeling conflicted and embarrassed.

The injury was inconveniently located on her upper thigh, meaning she would have to remove her pants for him to treat it.

But wouldn’t that mean he would see her bare legs?

Loreen had been raised in the strict Thomas family, where she maintained a respectful distance from men, never allowing any physical contact.

Moreover, the Thomas family’s doctor was a renowned specialist abroad, and she doubted whether mere acupuncture could effectively stop the bleeding and treat her injury.

After considering her options, Loreen finally said, “I appreciate your help, but please just take me to the hospital. I think I can manage.”

Charlie frowned in frustration, fully aware of her thought process.

Loreen likely believed her injury wasn’t severe enough to warrant immediate treatment, unaware that the only reason she felt stable was due to the trace of Reiki he had discreetly infused into her body while carrying her.

Otherwise, she would have already succumbed to the blood loss!

In reality, Loreen thought her injury was minor and attempted to stand. However, as soon as she moved, the wound opened up, and a torrent of blood gushed forth.

Stars danced before her eyes, and darkness began to creep in. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground, her face turning as pale as snow.

Charlie frowned and said, “See? I warned you that if you moved again, you could lose your leg. Even if we get you to the hospital now, it’s too late for treatment. You’re losing too much blood and could go into hypovolemic shock before the ambulance arrives. So, it’s either treatment or death—make your choice now!”