Chapter 46: Rupert's Injury
It happened so fast. None of them expected Nina to have a knife. The razor-sharp blade plunged toward Annabel with force. Annabel reacted quickly, raising her foot to kick the knife, but Rupert stepped in front of her.
"Step back!" he cautioned, holding Annabel with one hand and grabbing Nina's knife-wielding arm with the other. It never occurred to Annabel that Rupert would risk his life for her. She'd already begun her kick, and it inadvertently struck him.
This instinctive shift made him miss Nina's hand, and the blade grazed his hand.
"Shit!" Rupert cursed under his breath as both the knife and Annabel's kick landed. He hadn't anticipated her kick.
"Rupert, are you okay?" Annabel asked, concerned by the flash of pain on his face. She'd intended to kick Nina, not him. When he'd shielded her, it was too late for her to retract her leg. The cut on his hand was already bleeding.
"I'm fine," Rupert replied, his face grim. He pressed the wound to stanch the bleeding, but he clearly felt the pain from Annabel's kick.
"Rupert, I'm so sorry," Nina apologized. She was as shocked as the others. How could she have stabbed Rupert? She'd aimed for Annabel. Why had Rupert risked his life? In her anger, she blamed Annabel: "Annabel, you bitch! You let Rupert get hurt!"
A security guard, alerted by the commotion, arrived.
"Mr. Benton, are you alright?" he asked.
"She stabbed him. Hold her," Annabel said, pointing at Nina.
"I didn't!" Nina screamed and fled, but the guard pursued her.
Annabel ignored them, focusing on Rupert's wound. "It's a knife cut. You need to disinfect it and stop the bleeding immediately."
"There's a medical kit in my car," Rupert said, indicating his vehicle nearby.
"Let me help you," Annabel offered. She felt guilty; he wouldn't have been injured if he hadn't saved her.
After helping him into the car, Annabel retrieved the kit. She carefully cleaned the wound with alcohol and cotton swabs. He felt the coolness of her touch.
Staring at her, Rupert felt little pain. She was remarkably skilled at bandaging. Where had she learned this? Did she have medical training? How many more surprises did Annabel hold? After cleaning the wound, she gently blew on it.
"This might sting," she warned, then applied iodine.
The sting was sharp, but Rupert didn't flinch, his focus entirely on Annabel. He felt a tenderness he couldn't explain. He reached for her hand, but she held his down. "Don't move. It'll be fine soon."
Feeling her warmth, he softened. "Thank you, Anna," he murmured.
Anna? Surprised, Annabel looked up. It was the first time he'd called her that. "Anna, haven't we met before?" he asked, smiling and leaning closer. This kind girl… she reminded him of Candy, a girl from his past.
They were so close, his lips could brush her forehead. When he said "Anna," it felt like he was calling his beloved.
Annabel was confused. Why did he always ask strange questions? How could they have met? She racked her brain, but had no memory of him. Their first meeting had been less than a month ago, at his house.
"No," Annabel shook her head. "I lived in the countryside. How could we have met?"
"I see," Rupert nodded, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Well, don't worry about it. I haven't finished bandaging your wound yet."
Annabel finished the bandage a few minutes later. Though the cut was superficial, it needed professional attention. His leg injury, however, seemed more serious.
Packing up the kit, Annabel said, "This is just basic first aid. You need to go to the hospital. I'll take you."
"Can you drive?" Rupert asked.
"Yes," she nodded.
Annabel skillfully drove them to the hospital. Rupert rubbed his leg. "Why did you kick me? Were you trying to kill your fiancé?"
"It wasn't intentional," Annabel frowned. "I was aiming for Nina. I didn't see you until it was too late. Without you, I would have stopped her."
"Really?" Rupert raised an eyebrow, surprised. He hadn't even seen the kick coming. It was forceful and precise—not something an ordinary girl could do. Was Annabel skilled in fighting?