Chapter 5

I knew that forging a hotel record would require my ID and also an inside man at the front desk of the hotel. I had no memory of ever chatting with Diana, so I wondered where these messages came from.

I was completely muddled by the whole situation while the police officers kept pressing me for answers.

I shrugged, my hands out, and said, "I won't sign anything or answer any questions until my lawyer gets here."

"You'd better start talking, Levi Sullivan! You ought to know that we've found out that your father was involved with the criminal underworld—"

I bolted upright, my eyes bloodshot and my body trembling all over from rage. "You'd better shut your mouth this instant! You have no right to speak about my father!"

It was then that Mom rushed in with a lawyer, accompanied by Martin Wagner, my teacher, and David Johnson, Dad's colleague.

Officer Johnson served with Dad, who died in the line of duty while working as an undercover operative. He was the most knowledgeable person regarding this fact.

In my past life, Mom and I had insisted that Officer Johnson not be involved to keep things confidential. In this life, however, I had no other option.

Officer Johnson walked over to reassure me, saying, "You can rest assured that we're going to get to the bottom of this and clear your name, Levi."

Mr. Wagner also provided a statement, testifying that I was a student in good standing with no history of contact with Diana.

He also pointed out that on the date that Diana allegedly claimed that I went to the hotel, I had caught a thief at school and was honored as an outstanding citizen. He insisted that there was no way I could have been at a hotel that day, especially since I still had the certificate for my bravery right at home.

Thanks to Officer Johnson's guarantee and Mr. Wagner's statement, my lawyer soon secured my release on bail, allowing me to return home that very evening.

I had just stepped out of the interrogation room when Diana charged at me, hitting and yelling. "Help! Those police are covering for a criminal! He's the one who violated me, and you're just letting him walk free! That police officer is helping him!"

She pointed at Officer Johnson and yelled, "You walked right out the moment he walked into the interrogation room! You guys are obviously working together! Help! They are ganging up on a defenseless woman! You're not allowed to leave! You assaulted me and deserve to be locked up!"

She threw herself at me after saying that, only for the police officers to intercept her and hold her down by force.

I held up my paperwork and said, "I'm out on bail through legal channels. I should mention that you're out of luck. I have a solid alibi for the date of that fake hotel booking, and Mr. Wagner is here to vouch for me.

"I was out catching a thief that night—something that the police station can verify—so I couldn't have possibly been at a hotel with you.

"I want to know why you are working so hard to frame me. I was one of the people who donated to you—500 dollars, in fact—when your grandmother was ill. I've never done anything bad to you, so why are you targeting me?"

Dad passed away when I was young, leaving Mom to raise me alone. I lived on just 500 dollars a month, yet I still chose to donate 500 dollars I had saved from a summer gig to Diana's grandmother. I never expected that my kindness would be repaid with such betrayal.

Diana's face was flushed from rage, but she still refused to back down. "What of it? Your 500 dollars doesn't go very far. Do you think that donating 500 dollars makes you a good person?

"Just because Mr. Wagner is taking your side doesn't mean anything. He's obviously biased because you're one of his favorite students!"

She persisted in staying at the police station and refused to go until the police officers eventually pressured and removed her by force.

Mom was overcome with tears and relief when she saw me return home unharmed.

I gently wiped away her tears, making a silent vow to myself. "I won't let you go through any more pain, Mom."

I was finally settling back into my peaceful routine when my lawyer shared the positive update that no further evidence had been filed against me. It seemed likely that the charges would be dismissed shortly.

I was in such a good mood that I stopped by the market to pick up extra groceries for dinner with Mom. I was suddenly cornered by a group of people out of nowhere and forcibly knocked out.

I caught the voices of a man and a woman as I slipped in and out of consciousness. "Get moving—take it off and get into position so that I can take the photo."

I forced my eyes open and was met with the sight of bare breasts right in front of me. I suddenly found the power to shove the other person back and yelled, "Get away from me! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I looked more closely and noticed that it was Kevin Miller, the son of the school board chairman. "It's you!"