Chapter 438


    The moment felt surreal to Skr, and she wondered if her ears were ying tricks on her. Her


    suspicions, however, were confirmed when Tobias immediately shielded Skr with his body as they


    both continued staring at the bed. An abrupt hush had descended upon the room, leaving only the sound


    of their anxious breathing.


    Tobias crept over to the bed, then bent over slowly to peer under it. Another pair of eyes instantly met


    his. Tobias barely flinched, but Skr was so taken aback that she gave an ear-splitting scream.


    Skr watched, stupefied, as a man crawled out from under the bed. Fortunately, the entire room was


    brightly lit, and the scene looked more absurd than horrifying.


    Tobias held onto Skr protectively, his watchful gaze never leaving the body of the man who had


    wriggled his way out from underneath the bed. The man was short and of a small frame. The camera


    and voice recorder that he sped in one hand instantly betrayed his profession.


    “I think I have entered the wrong room and fell asleep! I’m so sorry for disturbing you. I’ll head back to my


    room now,” the man mumbled foolishly, already threading his way to the door at top speed.


    Tobias marveled at the audacity and persistence of these tabloid reporters. He’d only left the room once


    in the afternoon, so the reporter must have snuck in then and hidden ever since. What if I hadn’t been


    around? Tobias fumed.


    Skr would have unwittingly gone to bed with a man lying below her. What if he was a pervert? What


    would stop him from having his way with this helpless woman?


    Skr had barely recovered her wits. Her heart was still thumping wildly as she said hoarsely, “Where


    did youe from? What the hell were you doing beneath my bed?”


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    The reporter immediately took to his heels, preparing to flee. Tobias had anticipated this and raised his


    leg to deliver a sturdy kick on the reporter’s knee. Thetter copsed with a howl of agony and


    crumpled to the floor clutching his knee. The entire room had heard the audible sound of bone breaking.


    Tobias squatted beside the reporter, casually observing as he shook and whimpered in pain and fear.


    “Tell me. What were you doing hiding down here? You paparazzi really know no bounds.”


    Gasping, the reporter stammered, “Mr. Ford, I didn’t want to do this either, I swear! I didn’t take any


    pictures. Let me go, I beg you! I’ll never do it again.”


    Skr frowned. Anger had now reced her initial shock, and she took a step forward. “How did you


    know that he was Mr. Ford? Who sent you here? Which mediapany do you work for?”


    Tobias delivered a heavy blow to the reporter’s face. “If you already knew who I was, you should know


    what I do to people who don’t tell the truth. I’ll give you onest chance. Why are you here?”


    The reporter trembled in submission. He knew full well Tobias’ reputation for brutality.


    Reluctantly, the reporter replied, “The other Mr. Ford sent me, asking me to report everything you did,


    right down to every single word you said. I’m a private detective! You came back just as I was fixing my


    cameras in the room. I’m just a pawn! I’m begging you to let me go, Mr. Ford. I’ll never take on a job like


    this again.”


    Skr could scarcely believe her ears. How can Sheldon, always so frivolous and careless, be the


    mastermind behind this evil scheme?


    The thought that Sheldon had actually stooped to spying on his own brother was more perplexing than


    the reporter’s presence in the room. Based on Skr’s impression of Sheldon, he neither had the means


    nor motive to carry out such a cunning plot. Or was Sheldon fooling us all along? Skr wondered.


    Beside her, Tobias burst into a bitterugh.


    Skr turned to Tobias and glimpsed in his eyes a mix of rage and utter disappointment.


    Tobias stood up, then spat, “Go back and tell Sheldon that he’s making a big mistake. He’d better learn


    to stay in his ownne.”


    Tobias stalked off. Without a moment to lose, the reporter stumbled out of the room. In his haste, he


    collided heavily with the door frame. Reeling, he nheless pressed forward blindly, hell bent on


    escaping from Tobias.


    Skr’s mind was now in a tumult. Upon sensing the gloomy aura that surrounded Tobias, the questions


    that had rushed to her lips died away just as quickly.


    Skr slipped her hand into Tobias’ tentatively and offered meekly, “Why don’t we go out for a walk? The


    nights here are really serene and beautiful.”


    Tobias looked unmoved, his expression entirely nk. The only trace of emotion he revealed was in the


    barest quiver of his voice as he replied, “You should get an early rest. Don’t bete tomorrow.”


    Skr said nothing. Unlike his blunt self, Tobias now seemed defensive, secretive almost. Tobias was


    not usually in the habit of expressing his emotions, but he appeared even more guarded now.