Chapter 5

The staff promptly locked down the entire ski resort after I reported the incident to the police. No one was allowed to leave unless they were VVIP members. A crowd had gathered in the lobby, demanding explanations. The police arrived shortly afterward. "Ms. Sutton, could you give us more details about how you noticed the theft?" a female officer asked as she helped me sit down, placing a cup of warm water into my trembling hands. "I wasn't feeling well earlier and thought I might have a fever, so I went out to look for Samuel," I said, my tone uneasy. "I couldn't find him and ended up getting lost. After finally finding my way back to the room, I discovered the door was open…" I continued, "I was very anxious, so I went straight to the front desk and asked the receptionist to call the police for me." Nathan Black, the hotel manager, had been standing nearby, listening. Hearing this, he promptly offered to check the surveillance footage. I recalled that in my previous life, Nathan had been extremely uncooperative. He had insisted that company policy prohibited revealing surveillance footage due to customer privacy concerns. Now, however, he seemed more than willing to cooperate, likely to avoid liability. After all, the stolen item was a million-dollar bracelet. Clearly, a young woman's dignity and future couldn't be compared to jewelry worth a million dollars. Of course, while he agreed to cooperate, he only provided a short segment of the hallway footage—starting from after Samuel had left the room. In the footage, a man around five foot seven, wearing a black baseball cap, appeared shortly after Samuel left. "I think I saw this man earlier," a curious female tourist said, sneaking a glance at the footage. "He was at the main entrance just now, arguing and demanding to leave." The police acted swiftly and soon brought Bob to the scene. "What bracelet? I didn't steal anything!" Bob protested loudly. When the police searched him, they found my room's key card in his pocket. "Where did you get this?" one of the officers asked sternly. Bob hiccuped, and the smell of alcohol was heavy on his breath. He stole a nervous glance at me before stammering, "I-I picked it up off the floor. Officer, I swear I didn't steal anything! I'm innocent! Search me all you want!" The police observed his guilty demeanor, their suspicion deepening. I said softly, "Officer, how many years will a thief get for stealing jewelry worth a million dollars?" A law-savvy tourist among the onlookers chimed in, "Ten years at least. If you get a good lawyer, he might never see the outside of a cell again." "No! I really didn't steal anything!" Bob panicked, his voice trembling. "I was just there to take photos! I didn't touch anything else! When I saw no one in the room, I immediately left!" Back in the elevator, I noticed Bob's timid nature. Now, under the weight of the situation, he cracked and confessed everything without restraint. The surrounding crowd erupted into discussions. "Photos? What kind of photos?" "What else? Just look at the lady sitting there—she's stunning, even prettier than a movie star. That guy makes me sick." "You mean those kinds of photos?" "Oh my god, that's vile! Thank goodness he didn't get the chance." "Get this scumbag out of here already! How could someone like him even get into the hotel?" "Does this mean the hotel isn't safe?" Nathan quickly interjected, "Our hotel is extremely secure! This key card isn't one of our spares. All spares are kept here—" Someone interjected, "If it's not a spare, does that mean it's Mr. Jackman's card?" I flinched and curled up, clutching my arms tightly as I turned toward Bob, my voice shaking. "D-Did Samuel send you to take photos of me? Why would he do that?" Bob froze, his expression one of shock as though I had hit the nail on the head. According to Benjamin, Samuel had indeed given his tacit approval. My face turned pale as I struggled to steady myself in my seat. "Why would he want to take those kinds of photos of me? What does he plan to do with them?" Jack, the young man I had met earlier, stepped forward from the crowd, his face filled with righteous indignation. "Is Mr. Jackman crazy or what? I helped this lady press the elevator button earlier this afternoon, and he insulted her horribly, saying things that were completely disrespectful to women." "I saw Mr. Jackman earlier too," another onlooker chimed in. "There was another lady with him. So, he didn't just bring one but two ladies here. What a scumbag!" I continue trembling uncontrollably, my head spinning with dizziness. I had made many assumptions about how Bob might have obtained the key card. He could have found it lying around after Samuel accidentally lost it. That was why I took the initiative to question him directly, asking if Samuel had sent him. Bob's startled reaction and guilty look said it all. The juicy gossip excited the crowd, and the murmurs of discussion grew louder. Before losing consciousness, I tightly grasped the female officer's arm and whispered, "Please…take me to my university dormitory. I-I don't want to be anywhere else—" The fever I suspected earlier was real. Before leaving the room, I had already felt my forehead burning. With that, I passed out amidst a flurry of shocked gasps. … When I regained consciousness, I found myself staring at a stark white ceiling under the bright glare of fluorescent lights. My throat burned, and I was so parched that I couldn't form a word. The moment I sensed the faint scent of cigarettes amidst the strong smell of disinfectant, my scalp prickled with unease. Before I could react, a hand clamped around my neck, pinning me firmly to the hospital bed. Samuel loomed over me, his tall frame radiating menace. His expression was dark, his fury palpable as his long fingers tightened around my throat. The disdain in his eyes was like a dagger, sharp and cutting. I felt like an insignificant insect in his hands, ready to be crushed anytime. Was this how it ended? Was this a fate I could never escape? The suffocating feeling consumed me completely. Coughing and gasping for air, I clawed desperately at his hand, my nails digging deep enough to draw blood. He winced but didn't loosen his grip. "What were you doing when people were slandering Yvie?" he demanded, his voice low and seething. "They said I brought two women to the ski resort for my own amusement, that I spent the night with both of them. Ha!" His eyes narrowed as he continued, "Why didn't you defend me? Do you even know what they're saying about Yvie now?" I couldn't breathe. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Just as I thought I might die of suffocation, Samuel suddenly let go. His fingers brushed the corners of my eyes before trailing down my ears and jawline, finally slipping beneath my collar. "Let me see just how cruel and heartless you truly are," he said, his tone dripping with malice. I grabbed his hand with all my strength, coughing violently as I struggled to steady my voice. "Did you tell the police I had someone take nude photos of you?" Samuel asked, withdrawing his hand to grip my chin. "If I wanted to see you naked, I could make you strip anytime I wished. Why would I need someone to take photos for me?" I forced myself to remain calm, though my eyes stung with unshed tears. To him, I was nothing more than a plaything to torment at will. Every word he spoke stripped away my dignity. I began hoarsely, "Samuel, I called the police because something was stolen. I didn't explain anything because I didn't know how to. The truth is, you did bring Yvette and me to the ski resort." I continued, "As for those rumors about spending a night with two women, I know nothing about them, nor did I spread them. I fainted shortly afterward from a fever. If you still think this is somehow my fault, then it's no wonder Yvette would never fall for a scum like you." Yvette had always loved someone else. Even in my past life, Samuel had never won her heart. He remained her pathetic admirer until my death. Samuel suddenly laughed, loosening his tie. With a sudden kick, he nearly overturned the hospital bed. The bed shook violently, but I didn't flinch. Yvette's love for another man was Samuel's greatest weakness. He knew it, but he couldn't bear to hear it spoken aloud. Most importantly, Samuel didn't know who Yvette loved. He only knew that her heart belonged to someone else. He didn't dare confront Yvette, instead letting his frustration fester in silence. But I knew exactly who Yvette loved.