Elias’ Crimes and Punishments of Romance

Moon gazed at Amanda. For some inexplicable reason, she felt a force in her heart urging her to trust Amanda.

“Alright. I believe you.”

“In that case, eat your meal and get a good night’s sleep. We only stand a chance at escape when we are well-rested and nourished,” Amanda advised.

Moon obediently nodded.

Amanda, however, glanced at the door and let out a soft sigh that only she could hear.

She didn’t know if Elias would come to rescue her. She had made two phone calls, and the second one was abruptly cut off. Elias should be aware of her perilous situation.

After a while, a man entered the room with two boxed meals as well as some toiletries and clothes.

“After you finish eating, take a shower and change into these clothes.”

With that said, the man left.

Moon had been hiding behind Amanda all this time because she had been beaten numerous times in the past two days. Every time she saw these people, she would tremble in fear, as if she had encountered a ghost.

“I don’t want to wear these clothes. I don’t want to sleep with those men. I don’t want to. I don’t want…”

Moon was afraid of these clothes because, on the first day, she was forced to wear revealing attire. However, she would rather die than comply. She even bit one of them, resulting in at beating.

Amanda noticed her fear and comforted her, holding her and saying, “Don’t worry. You don’t have to wear them. They won’t let you go out like this with your current injuries.”

That finally calmed Moon down.

Amanda picked up the boxed meal and began to eat. She was indeed famished. Since fleeing Simon’s house, she had not eaten a single meal or had a sip of water.

In the subsequent days, Elias scoured all the bars and nightclubs in the area, but there was no sign of Amanda. The worst possibility even crossed his mind.

Amanda might be dead.

drops of blood stained

thought of this possibility caused

to believe it. It could not be

any leads from the bodyguards, but there was no good news. He only received

of you are useless! You can’t

chair behind his desk as he angrily reprimanded the bodyguards

had thoroughly combed through the area, but they just could not find Amanda. They had even checked the airport and train station, but there was no record of her purchasing any ticket under the name of

in our search through the area, but she is

searching! Perhaps there are hidden surveillance cameras! Examine the car that was parked there that night. Review the entire

“Yes!”

departed, Elias leaned back in his chair. His long fingers were pressed against his forehead as he stared at

she was

she was still alive. She would not be so easily

It was

call? Amanda’s phone didn’t have any saved numbers; it had a completely

the phone rang as if determined to keep ringing until the call was

he had no choice but to answer the phone since

the screen and

child’s voice came through the phone, brimming with. innocence and cuteness. “Mommy, what are you

of a

felt a tightness in his chest. Could this be the son that

suddenly recalled the day he went to the Nicholsons’ house and heard a child addressing Simon as “Dad” over

the other end of the line coquettishly pleaded, “Mommy, why aren’t you talking to me? Today, that strange man was acting weird again. He wanted me to call him Dad, but I won’t call him Dad. I have my own

his entire body stiffening

called

why aren’t you saying anything? What are

fingers tightened around the phone as he

his sentence, the child

Elias froze.

out Dad just by