Chapter 78
The hotel manager let out a long sigh. “Mrs. Johnson, as you can see, it’s all there…”
His expression was familiar. The same sympathetic regret he had worn in my previous life. But this time, I didn’t flinch. I simply pointed at the screen and offered a calm, steady smile.
“The person who checked in last night wasn’t me. That is my proof.“}]
The officer’s brow furrowed as he stared at the screen for a few long seconds. “The face and ID match both times. How exactly is this proof? It looks like you.”
The crowd around us began to murmur again, confusion thick in the air.”
“Yeah, looks like the same person to me,” someone said. “Sure, she had makeup on at the wedding and was barefaced last night, but the facial structure matches.”
“Same ID photo, too,” another added. “She’s clearly stalling. Afraid of going to jail now that the mess has gone public.”
“What a waste of time. No shame at all–just throw her in already. Can’t even stand to look at her.“}
The voices dripped with disgust, but I blocked them out, refusing to let their judgment shake me. I stepped forward, approaching the hotel
manager.
“You were the one who checked me in last night, weren’t you?“}
He blinked, caught off guard, then nodded cautiously. “Yes, is there a problem?“}
The surveillance footage had already shown that clearly–him standing behind the desk, scanning an ID. He couldn’t deny it.
I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I slowly reached into my bag, my movements deliberate.”
His face changed instantly. He stepped back, alarm flashing in his eyes.”
“What are you doing?“}
“I just followed procedure,” he said quickly. “You’re the one trying to smear my hotel’s name. I haven’t even held you accountable for dragging us into this–don’t tell me you’re about to act out because you can’t prove your innocence?“}
His voice was rising in panic now and his words drew uneasy glances from the crowd. People began to step away from me cautiously, as if expecting me to pull out a weapon.
Even one of the officers shifted into a defensive stance, hand hovering near his belt.
But by the time I withdrew my hand from my bag, all I was holding… was my ID card.
“Everyone, relax,” I said evenly. “I just want the manager to take a look and confirm–whether the ID in my hand is the same one used during check–in last night.”
I didn’t hand it over immediately. Instead, I met the manager’s gaze and asked coolly, “The truth is, no matter where I was last night, I still would’ve appeared to have checked in. And you would’ve been the one who helped me do it–am I right?“}]
The color drained slightly from his face.}]
“Mrs. Johnson, what exactly are you suggesting?” he asked, his tone suddenly guarded. “Whether or not you stayed at our hotel is your own business. How could we possibly control that?”
“And yes,” he added quickly, “I was on duty yesterday. When things get busy, I help at the front desk. There’s nothing unusual about that.” To the average listener, it sounded perfectly reasonable. But there was a crack in the story that was only known to me.”
Months ago, I’d grown tired of the awful photo on my old ID. On a whim, I had it changed. I’d only received the new one a week ago, complete with a different picture. The ID number stayed the same, but the photo was completely new.
In my previous life, I’d checked into the hotel myself, so the hotel’s system captured my new ID photo. But this time, I never came to the hotel. Never checked in. Which meant the hotel’s system should not have any record of my new ID.
That was the assumption I was banking on.
I took a breath and looked around at the officers, the spectators, even the manager himself.
“Well then,” I said softly, “let’s take a look at the ID in my hand… and see whether it matches the one used during check–in.“)]
I handed the card to the police first, watching as the officer took it carefully in his gloved hand. §
He studied it, eyes flicking from the ID to my face, then back again.
And then… he turned toward the front desk.
10:31 AM ·
