Elias’ Crimes and Punishments of Romance

Within the confines of the car.

Amanda let out a resigned sigh. “I fear Casey is in dire straits. The way Eleanor erased the surveillance footage so meticulously indicates that she must be hiding something sinister.”

“I can’t fathom why she would delete the surveillance footage. Could it be possible that she has abducted Casey?” Symeon narrowed his eyes, reaching for a cigarette, but abruptly remembered Amanda’s presence and withdrew his hand.

“Casey might have been relocated by Eleanor. If the surveillance footage was deleted, it could be retrieved, but if the hard drive was entirely replaced, all hope is lost.”

“Regardless, our first course of action should be to attempt to recover the surveillance footage from the Carter Residence. If that proves futile, then we’ll confront Eleanor directly. If she resists, we’ll compel her,” Symeon stated, his face set in a stern expression.

Amanda pondered for a moment, then voiced, “But there’s one comforting fact, that is, Eleanor is unlikely to harm her, which would buy us enough time to locate her.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Symeon steered the car slowly away from the Carter Residence, oblivious to the fact that Casey was imprisoned in the basement at that very moment.

Meanwhile, within the confines of the basement, Casey was racking her brain to devise an escape plan through the small window, but she couldn’t locate any tools in the basement to aid her escape.

Suddenly, the sound of a ball being kicked and the chatter of Peter echoed from outside the basement door.

Peter? Right!

She could employ Peter to liberate herself or, at the very least, send out a distress signal to the outside world!

Casey pressed herself against the door, peering through the small window at Peter playing ball outside, and hollered, “Peter! Peter! It’s me, Casey! Come over here!”

Intrigued by the noise from the basement, Peter ambled over, and upon seeing her confined inside, he burst into laughter. “Why are you locked in here? Did you misbehave and get punished by Daddy? Serves you right, haha!“

Peter stuck out his tongue and made faces at her, deliberately provoking her.

Casey couldn’t afford to lose her temper at this point. She cajoled him patiently. “Can you help me open the door and let me out? Once I’m out, I’ll buy you anything you want.”

“Humph, I don’t need it. You’re so annoying. Besides, whatever I desire, Mom and Dad will get it for me.”

his desires fulfilled and was difficult to trick.

returned to the basement door. “I can lend you my phone, but you have to promise me one thing. You have to accompany me to the theme park. I’ve been pestering

a theme park. I’ll bring you there. You can

That’s fantastic! Let me grab my phone for your After saying that,

only rely on this mischievous boy to honor his

door window. She recognized that it was Peter’s footsteps, the familiar sound

with his phone. “Here, I’ll lend you my phone. Return it once you’re done.”

of relief spreading across her face. With a phone, she could summon help,

phone, she couldn’t make

I

boy. She handed the phone back to Peter. “Hey, Peter, can you help me make a call outside? There’s no

who you want to call!” Peter looked exasperated.

and swiftly composed a text message. Then, she pondered for a moment, deciding to send it to Symeon, because Amanda had mentioned that if she was in peril, she could seek

back to Peter. “Peter, go outside and send this text

going to bring me to the theme

tomorrow. Or, if you let me out now, we can go to the theme park immediately,” It would be ideal if she could directly escape, but she feared that Peter couldn’t

for a long time. It was secured with a password, and he, being a

can’t unlock it. I

go out and send this text message, and first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll definitely bring you to the

you keep your promise?”

you lend me your phone to make a call? I’ll comply with any demand you make.” Casey altered her strategy. She needed to be adaptable, and she could deal with him once she was free.

you my phone, but you have to promise me one thing. You have to accompany me to the theme park. I’ve been pestering Mom and Dad for ages, but they’re

you there. You can play to your heart’s

my phone for your After saying

but she could only rely on

window. She recognized that it was

with his phone. “Here, I’ll lend you my phone. Return it once you’re

With a phone, she could summon help,

with a phone, she couldn’t

should I do…