Chapter 2

The Crown Suite was pretty dimly lit. The table was covered with liquor bottles, and rowdy music played from the speakers.

I didn't know anyone else in the suite at the club. They were all part of Eric's circle and dabbled in the car sales industry like he did.

Eric slung an arm around my shoulders and said, "The groom has finally arrived! You're about to be shackled for life tomorrow, so tonight, we're giving you one last send-off!"

Someone whistled, and someone else shoved a glass into my hand. I smiled, but I didn't drink.

"My wedding's tomorrow. I can't get drunk."

Eric clicked his tongue. "Why are you acting like you have a stick up your butt? Does Holly keep you on such a tight leash?"

At the mention of Holly's name, I looked at him. His smile looked natural and convincing, as if he were genuinely indignant on my behalf.

We'd been best friends for ten years now. The year I returned to Greenvale after leaving the military, Eric was still washing cars at a used-car showroom.

He'd told me he wanted to start his own used-car business by venturing into livestreamed car sales, but he had no equipment, no space, and no capital.

I'd set up his livestream studio for him, lent him a warehouse, and even covered his debts twice. He'd teared up when he called me his best buddy.

I never thought he'd be the one who'd end up dooming me.

Eric reached for my jacket.

"Just leave your jacket on the couch, and don't keep your phone on you. You wouldn't want a random call to ruin the mood."

I avoided his hand and said, "It's fine."

For a moment, Eric's gaze darkened, but he regained his cheerful demeanor immediately after. "Fine. Suit yourself."

At 9:19 pm, the door to the suite swung open. A woman in a skimpy dress walked in, her perfume overpowering the room. She sat down right next to me and pressed her body against mine before draping her fingers over my arm.

"Hey there, Mr. Hughes. Eric said everything's been paid for. I'm here to keep you company tonight."

The room erupted in catcalls and whistles.

Eric even deliberately took out his phone to record me. "Look at the groom getting ready for a wild night before his wedding!"

I didn't push the woman away. I was afraid she might use the opportunity to fall over and give them the chance to accuse me of assaulting a woman.

Instead, I rose to my feet and walked out of the suite. I stood right under the surveillance camera in the hallway before calling the police. Putting the call on speaker mode, I reported, "Hello, I'm calling outside the Crown Suite on the sixth floor of The Aurelian.

"Someone has used my identity to arrange an illegal transaction and is attempting to fabricate evidence of my supposed infidelity before my wedding. I'm currently standing under the surveillance camera in a public hallway, and I haven't been alone with the other party at any point. Please send some officers over to document the scene."

The bustle inside the suite died out. Eric came running out with a scowl on his face.

"Logan! Are you out of your mind? You're calling the cops over a joke?"

I looked at him. "You think soliciting prostitutes is something to joke about?"

He lowered his voice. "Your wedding's tomorrow! Are you sure you want to get involved with the police tonight? That's bad mojo."

I ignored him.

The woman in the skimpy dress stood in the doorway, her face pale as well.

15 minutes later, the police arrived.

Eric, however, was far calmer than I'd expected.

Kevin Patterson, the manager of the club, produced the transaction records, which indicated that the Crown Suite had been booked under my name, with my driver's license for identification. The invoice included an item listed as "private entertainment service".

The woman's name was Amy Farrow. She tearfully claimed that I'd contacted her in advance and told her to meet me at the Crown Suite at 9:20 pm. She even had the chat records on her phone, showing that she'd spoken to someone with my face as his profile picture and who identified himself with the name "Logan Hughes".

She also showed the police the Venmo transfer of 5,000 dollars that she'd received. The transaction remark read, "Satisfy me tonight, and I'll tip you extra."

When the police officers looked at me, I unlocked my phone and handed it over.

"I disabled all my payment methods before leaving the house this evening. My phone has been recording continuously since I left the house, and the files are being uploaded in real time. The only call I've taken tonight was from Eric. I haven't contacted this woman."

Eric snorted.

"Logan, if it wasn't you, how are you going to explain why she knows your name and where to find you? Even if you're my best friend, I'm not going to lie for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, one of the officers received a phone call.

"Someone has anonymously reported the occurrence of illegal prostitution at the Crown Suite of The Aurelian. According to the report, the suspect is Logan Hughes."

Everyone turned to look at me again.

It hit me then that they'd never intended to rely on just Amy to set me up.

The booking of the suite under my name, the money transfer, the chat records, and now the police report—everything had been arranged in advance.

Just as the police took me away for further investigation, my phone suddenly began vibrating nonstop.

Holly had uploaded a video. She sat on the edge of the bed, her face swollen and her arms mottled with bruises, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Our wedding ceremony's supposed to take place tomorrow, but I really can't take it anymore! He's out there sleeping with a prostitute the night before our wedding, and he's been abusing me for a long time! I'm scared. I just want to stay alive."