Chapter 107
Lisette froze the second her eyes landed on him-
It was him. Tobias.
He held her tightly, a faint furrow between his brows, and the usual calm on his face was gone-replaced by this chilling intensity. In that moment, he didn’t look composed at all. He looked like someone who could take down gods without flinching.
Lisette’s mind flashed back to the knife that flew toward her and how his body had stiffened the moment he pulled her into his arms.
She panicked a little. “Are you hurt p>
“I’m fine,” Tobias said, hand still holding hers. “What about you? Are you okay p>
Just moments ago, Lisette had seemed invincible. Now she suddenly looked like a kid about to cry. She lifted her foot a little and whispered pitifully, “My ankle hurts p>
Under the dim lights, a gash ran across her exposed ankle, bleeding just slightly.
Tobias’s expression went dark in an instant. Without another word, he scooped her into his arms and said gently, “Let’s get you to the hospital p>
As he spoke, Elliot and two security guys had taken down the drunk crowd in the private room. Tobias shot a cold glance their way, his eyes sharp.
Elliot immediately got the message and nodded. “Got it. I’ll handle it p>
Tobias looked away. Over the screams and chaos, he carried Lisette out.
Nocturne was still as loud and chaotic as when she arrived, but with him next to her now, even the noise seemed far off. The world could be falling apart, and she’d still feel safe.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and mumbled softly, “Toby, if you hadn’t shown up, I might’ve ended up with a scarred face p>
“No way,” he said flatly, but the way he looked at her gave away the fear he still held. “I’d never let that happen p>
Lisette looked up at him, the swirling bar lights reflecting in her eyes. “Why were you here tonight p>
“Had dinner with a client,” he replied. “Was leaving the restaurant and saw your car outside p>
“That’s a crazy coincidence,” she said.
Or maybe-was it one of those weird marriage telepathy things? Like he felt she was in danger and just appeared, ready to take on a knife for her.
Her eyes caught a faint bite mark by his jaw. Tighter now around his neck, she muttered, “Hey… I didn’t mean to bite that hard yesterday. Sorry p>
“It’s fine. Didn’t even feel it p>
“I was going to bring cream to your office today p>
“Oh p>
“But the calendar said something about keeping it low-key today, so I figured I shouldn’t push it too hard, you know p>
“And then you went to a bar fight? That’s what ’keeping it low-key’ looks like to you p>
Oof. That hit right in the guilt. She zipped it.
From the bar, Tobias carried her straight to the car. After settling her into the passenger seat, he closed the door and headed around to the driver’s side, fingers brushing instinctively against his shoulder.
Back at the bar, everything had happened in a blur. That knife flew straight for Lisette, and he barely had time to react-just dived in front of her. It landed right in his shoulder, piercing through his coat.
Luckily, it was just a fruit knife. With the coat’s black fabric hiding it, it hadn’t been super obvious.
His brows pulled tight as he reached up and yanked the blade out, blood instantly soaking through the fabric. His face didn’t flinch. Without looking back, he casually tossed the knife into a nearby trash can.
The parking spot was dim, shadows falling over everything. Lisette thought she saw his arm twitch, like he threw something away, but before she could be sure-
The car door opened. Tobias climbed in, utterly calm, started the engine like nothing had happened.
For a second, she wondered if maybe she’d imagined it all.
The AC hummed. Wind from the vents cooled the car quickly, but soon a faint metallic scent started drifting in-like blood. And it was definitely coming from his side.
She looked at him. Maybe it was just the light, but his face looked unusually pale.
“Toby?” she called, voice soft. Tobias looked over at her with his usual calm. “Hm p>
She asked, “Are you sure you’re okay p>
“Yeah p>
“But your face looks a bit off p>
He turned his gaze away, rubbing his temple lightly with those long fingers of his, voice low and edged with weariness. “Might’ve drained a bit too much energy during the partnership talk this afternoon p>
That instantly made Lisette feel guilty. “Sorry… You’re always swamped with work, and I left you alone last night to make lemon honey tea p>
That… wasn’t what he meant.
Tobias quickly explained, “No, really. That client today was just a bit difficult. I actually slept fine p>
Lisette wasn’t buying it for a second.
Tobias had this silly habit of pretending he was fine all the time. Never showed weakness, just quietly carried everything on his shoulders.
She suddenly remembered what Grandma Eleanor once told her-how Tobias had been groomed as the head of the Hastings family since he was a kid, taking on huge responsibilities before he even hit high school.
Meanwhile, she had been living carefree under her parents’ and brothers’ protection like a pampered princess from some fairytale.
Thinking about that, her heart kind of ached for him.
The car went quiet all of a sudden.
Lisette wanted to break the awkward silence but couldn’t think of anything to say.
Instead, Tobias asked, “Why were you at the bar p>
She let out a sigh, curled up in the passenger seat, and told him everything that went down with the casting mess in Battle Hymn. “Owen lost it when he found out he’s playing a couple with Gabriel. He drank way too much, so I went to Nocturne to drag his sorry self out p>
“Who even are his friends? Loud and shady, all of them. Totally sketchy vibes p>
“Gabriel threw out that I was the girl Owen liked, and those jerks wouldn’t stop teasing him. Then they started saying crap to me too, all kinds of gross stuff p>
Lisette peeked over at him and saw the way his face remained expressionless. That’s when it hit her-she might’ve stepped in it.
She cleared her throat. “I promise, I only see him as my client. Nothing more. Zero romantic anything p>
Tobias gave a noncommittal “Mm,” but his expression was unreadable.
Lisette: p>
Ugh-way to mess things up by talking too much! What was she even thinking?
Sure, they acted more like friends most of the time, but on paper, they were still husband and wife. What kind of idiot starts going on about another man’s crush on her in front of her own husband?
She might as well have handed him a green hat to wear.
She wanted to sew her lips shut on the spot.
They reached the hospital not long after.
As the doctor disinfected Lisette’s wound, the alcohol made it sting like hell. The scab tore open and blood started flowing again. Her eyes welled up from the pain.
“Ow p>
Tobias gently pulled her into his arms, murmuring, “Hang in there, almost done, okay p>
Lisette hated pain, but she didn’t want to look weak either. So she grabbed onto his coat tightly and forced herself through it.
Her tug pulled at his shoulder and tore open his own injury. Blood seeped down his arm, warm and sticky. His back stung sharply, frown deepening as he clenched his jaw to stifle a grunt.
Pressed against him, Lisette caught a whiff of blood-that wasn’t hers.
She jerked back. “You p>
“Alright, miss, all bandaged up. Keep the wound dry for the next couple of days, and get plenty of rest p>
Whatever the doctor was saying, she didn’t hear a word of it. Pain forgotten, she jumped off the bed and yanked open Tobias’s coat, not giving him a chance to protest.
Her urgency made the doctor awkwardly clear his throat.
Adjusting his glasses and looking away, he added, “Miss, this is a hospital… And you’re injured, maybe try avoiding any, uh, intense activities with your boyfriend for now p>