Chapter Twenty-Eight: Tied to the Train Tracks

Wayne carried his luggage as he searched for his private compartment in the sleeper carriage.

This was an incredibly luxurious train, with over ten carriages all in classical style, clean and transparent windows adorned with velvet curtains.

The floor was covered in crimson carpet, and the ceiling was embellished with intricate patterns, towering five floors high, illuminated beautifully by crystal chandeliers.

This wasn't just a train; it was a moving palace, exuding opulence and romance, reminiscent of the renowned Oriental Express.

For some gold-digging pretty boys, this might have been mesmerizing, but not for Wayne. He had seen better days, and this train didn't impress him.

"What a piece of junk! No Wi-Fi and still has the nerve to charge so much money. Veronica's going to be furious," Wayne muttered to himself as he made his way through the carriage.

He encountered four or five men in black suits walking towards him, seemingly bodyguards accompanying someone important. Wayne lowered the brim of his gentleman's hat and stepped aside.

The aisle in the sleeper carriage wasn't spacious, and as they passed by, one of the men with a small mustache bumped into Wayne's shoulder.

The man walked arrogantly, as if he owned the entire corridor.

"What a lack of manners!" Wayne rolled his eyes, but he didn't dwell on the minor incident. With repeated apologies from the train staff, he entered his compartment.

It was a bunk bed with a desk below the window and an upper bunk for storing luggage, quite spacious indeed.

Wayne enjoyed his dinner in the compartment. After the steam train started moving, he locked the door and took off his gentleman's hat with a sigh.

"Co co co—"

A white pigeon leaped out and landed steadily on the desk.

Wayne opened his luggage and fed the pigeon some food. He thought he'd have a simple dinner of potatoes with corn and peas, but life took a turn, and his dinner was upgraded to fancy Western cuisine with wine.

Regardless of how delicious it was, it was high-end!

The train slowly departed from London, and Wayne turned on the wall lamp, taking out the magic book Vilya had given him.

He intended to try the basic magic of the messenger bird, but he was afraid of overexerting the pigeon, turning it into his midnight snack. After some consideration, he decided against it and focused on reviewing the magic book to strengthen his memory.

One night passed without incident until dawn.

March 21st.

Wayne woke up early feeling refreshed, and after getting ready, he headed to the dining car for breakfast.

The train wasn't fast; it was a tourist train, focusing on scenic views and gourmet food. During the day, the train's speed was slow, and at night, it was even slower.

Wayne got off at Ennold Town Station, where Veronica had arranged for someone to pick him up. He would go straight to the luxurious mansion, where Mr. Lando would handle the situation with the important figure. Once Veronica received the call from Mr. Lando, Wayne could return to London.

The specific date was still uncertain; Veronica wasn't sure when Mr. Lando would inform her. Given that Wayne's father-in-law ran a bank and was already a prominent figure, it shouldn't take much time.

It was all under control!

...

Dining car.

Wayne arrived early, and there weren't many guests in the dining car; many tables were empty. He randomly chose a seat and ordered a hearty breakfast.

If there were no delays, his arrival time would be around noon, just before lunch. As a precaution, he decided to eat a bit more for breakfast.

Before breakfast arrived, a woman in a black suit mixed with a long skirt entered the dining car. Ignoring the empty tables around, she walked straight to Wayne's table and sat down opposite him.

She had short, sharp golden hair that exuded a silky glow. With pearl earrings and a necklace, her slender neck was further elongated, radiating charm and elegance. It was quite a sight.

Wayne: (O_o)

Such a beautiful woman!

However, with so many empty seats, why sit opposite me? What's the meaning of this?

The woman's appearance was striking, with every feature beautifully crafted, making her look around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Coupled with an underlying intense self-confidence, she had an aura of aggression that instinctively made one feel inferior.

At the same time, her meticulous makeup and attire, every strand of hair perfectly in place, showed her discipline and high standards.

"Would you mind sharing a table with me, sir?" The beautiful woman smiled gently as the soft sunlight streamed through the train window, adding a warmth to her already exquisite face.

"I don't mind!" Wayne nodded, adding in his mind that he didn't mind the lady joining him, with no other implications.

Scientific studies show that looking at beautiful women can extend a man's lifespan by four to five years, and enjoying their beauty is good for the stomach. With that in mind, Wayne had no reason to refuse.

However...

He still had one thing to say: With so many empty seats, why sit opposite me? Was there an ulterior motive?

Under the woman's silent gaze, Wayne quickly finished his breakfast and dashed away without looking back.

"Hehe..." The woman chuckled softly, touching her face lightly. "He may be a cautious boy, or rather, cautious enough, which is a plus. But this is embarrassing for me!"

Sophie Lando!

Her daughter was Veronica Lando, and her husband was Austin Lando. Due to marital discord, they had been separated for a long time, and Sophie used the alias Sophie Valentine, rarely mentioning her marriage.

Sophie was very career-oriented. After the separation, she had been working abroad and was a typical career woman. Her outstanding abilities earned her a promotion, and she voluntarily applied to return to London for an important position.

With Veronica nearing graduation, Sophie wanted to personally celebrate her daughter's achievement and give her a surprise without prior notice.

At the train station, Sophie saw Veronica and mistakenly thought her whereabouts had been exposed. It turned out to be a misunderstanding, as Veronica was unaware that Sophie had returned to London and was at the station to see someone off.

A man!

At this moment, just like back then, that grimacing little face was reminiscent of when she bid farewell to her scoundrel husband at the train station.

Sophie was deeply shaken. Her daughter actually had a boyfriend!

How long had it been?

How far had it progressed, and had they reached that stage?

Was Veronica upset because she had been wronged?

That scoundrel didn't care at all!

As Sophie cursed her scoundrel husband, she changed her plans and decided to observe her daughter's boyfriend up close to see what kind of person he was.

If he was a social parasite who came for money and beauty, she wouldn't mind personally stuffing him into a concrete barrel and dumping him in the river. Or perhaps, tying him to the train tracks and quartering him.

At the moment, at least he wasn't here for looks, unlike her scoundrel husband, who was a total social parasite!

Sophie was very satisfied with Wayne's performance, but it wasn't enough. Supporting free love didn't mean letting go completely. Gaining her approval wouldn't be so easy.