Chapter 3

Landon panicked. He yelled incoherently, “I didn’t do it! I was only curious! These two are up to something!”

He pointed at Fiona and me. He seemed to think it was his saving grace.

“These two didn’t register as guests with their driver's licenses! They must be sneaking around! It’s obvious that they have a suspicious relationship! Why else would a man bring a woman to a hotel room? He must be a John! Arrest him!”

I scoffed and met Landon’s gaze.

“Is that why you broke the law and invaded the privacy of hotel guests and even started a livestream?”

Landon was stunned for a few seconds. Then, he got even more agitated.

“Invaded your privacy? Don’t you know what crime you’re committing?”

He straightened and accused me instead, pointing a finger in my face.

“Don’t let him trick you, officers! He’s a John! He got a hotel room with a prostitute at his wife’s back! Check his phone and then check the woman’s! There’s got to be a monetary transaction there!”

The police officers frowned. They looked at me doubtfully.

Landon’s phone was unlocked, so we could see that comments were still pouring in on the livestream.

[Well, if they’re innocent, they should let their phones be inspected!]

[That’s right! If they’re innocent, they shouldn’t be afraid of anything!]

[I bet five cents that there’ll be a monetary transaction!]

Right then, a middle-aged woman rushed over.

“What’s going on, officers?”

The woman was the hotel’s manager.

I thought she would be our savior. After all, she would surely arbitrate in our favor to preserve the reputation of her hotel.

But I noticed that Landon was sending her pleading looks. Since the police were here, he could only duck his head after.

This small action made my heart sink.

The manager, Ms. Fraser, first greeted the police officers with warm smiles. Then, she turned to us. Her expression turned stern but concerned.

“Dear guests, there was too much noise coming from your room. Mr. Cobert only came to check on you because he was worried about your safety.”

I harrumphed angrily. With one sentence, she had reframed the whole incident of Landon’s livestreaming.

It was no wonder Ms. Fraser was the hotel’s manager.

When she spoke next, her voice became even more stern.

“Our hotel is a respectable establishment. It’s not the place for you to mess around. You are liable for making a false police report.”

I never expected that she would accuse me!

“Your actions have already impacted our hotel’s reputation and disrupted our guests’ rest. Please leave now.”

I could hardly believe my ears.

“You’re kicking us out?”

I looked through the window. At some point in the night, the snowstorm had gotten worse.

It was Valentine’s Day, so the hotels in the area were all fully booked. If we left at this point, it would be impossible for us to find another place to stay.

Seeing Ms. Fraser was helping him, Landon turned arrogant. His expression was gleeful and taunting.

“Did you hear that? Get out! It’s snowing hard outside. Let’s see where you can go once you leave!”

Ms. Fraser’s expression was icy. She barked into the walkie-talkie, “Security, send two staff to Room 808 to clear out the guests’ things.”

Landon was excited. He raised his phone and addressed the people watching the livestream, “The show’s climax is coming, everyone! I’ll show you what’s going on inside the room and how exciting it is!”

He was ready to rush into the room.

“Hold it!” I shouted. Although I was not very loud, it was enough to get everyone to freeze.

I looked at them coldly and smirked.

“Are you sure you want to go in there?”

Landon paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Feeling guilty, are you? Well, I want to see even more badly now! Let everyone see just how depraved you are!”

I laughed as well and looked straight at him. “Alright then. Don’t have any regrets now.”

Landon scoffed and pushed the door open.

In the next second, he was stunned and rooted to the spot.