Chapter 7
The day Olivia was set to leave on the train finally arrived.
She'd already packed everything up, and after thinking it over, she decided to send Leon an email.
She told him he'd be getting their divorce papers soon—he was free now, and he didn't have to run off to America for a wedding. Right here in Brookfield, he could give Rachel whatever her heart desired.
The train station was bustling with people from all walks of life, everyone in a hurry to get somewhere. Among the crowd, Olivia noticed a girl about her own age walking side by side with a middle-aged woman—probably her mother.
"If you ask me, you really ought to get some plastic surgery. Marriage? It's all about the boring day-to-day stuff—rice, oil, bills. And trust me, nothing kills passion faster than time," the woman said, her voice blunt and matter-of-fact.
The girl just looked gloomy, keeping quiet.
"Doesn't matter how much a man loves you—time dulls everything. If he can fall for you at first sight, he can just as easily fall for someone else," the woman went on, her tone sharp and warning.
"So, a woman can never let her guard down!" she finished, her voice firm and relentless.
Olivia sat nearby, waiting for her train, and couldn't help but find it all a little funny. 'Funny how the world works—same old stories, just different faces. Doesn't matter if you're pretty or plain, rich or broke, it's always the same script,' she thought, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
*****
Olivia picked up her phone and noticed a new unread email in her inbox. She opened it, but it wasn't from Leon—just some generic auto-reply from Foster Group.
[Mr. Foster is currently unavailable. We will notify you as soon as he returns.]
Olivia looked at her phone and just found it funny. Without a second thought, she deleted the email and blocked the sender—she was done with anything to do with Foster Group.
Suddenly, Olivia spotted two familiar figures walking past her.
"Leon, why are we taking the train?" Rachel asked, her voice soft and a little confused.
"Didn't you say you were going to take me to America to get married?" she added, her tone tinged with disappointment.
Rachel held Leon's hand, giving it a gentle, almost pleading shake.
Leon was still smiling like nothing was wrong.
"Before we head to America, I want to take you out for a little adventure," he said, his voice soft and warm.
"You've never been on one of these old-school green trains, have you?" Leon teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
"They go slow and steady, and you'll see stuff you'd never get to see in the city," he added, his excitement shining through.
Leon once took a whole week off work just to go on a train journey with her, traveling together like it was some grand adventure.
She was so touched back then, she never said a word about how stiff and achy she got from sitting on those trains for hours—she just wanted to be with him.
Olivia let out a wry, almost mocking smile.
'Men's so-called devotion is always the same, no matter who's in their arms. It's all about convenience—they only care about whoever fits their needs right now,' Olivia thought, her heart growing colder with every passing moment.
Olivia shoved her way between them, forcing them apart, and strode through without hesitation.
Rachel, fuming after being shoved, snapped, "What the hell is your problem?"
Olivia stopped in her tracks.
"Rachel, keep it clean. I don't owe you anything," Olivia said coldly.
It was only then that Rachel and Leon realized it was Olivia standing in front of them.
"If Leon could cheat on me and fall for you, I doubt his feelings for you will last long," Rachel sneered.
"Being the other woman never ends well. And a man who falls for every pretty face? Even worse."
Olivia smiled, the cut on her forehead doing nothing to dim her radiance.
"And by the way, taking one of those old green trains for a trip isn't worth a dime. Leon's time isn't worth much either. So while you're with him, make sure to milk him for every dollar you can," Olivia added.
"You!" Rachel snapped, her face flushed with anger.
She grabbed Leon's arm and shook it furiously, her anger practically spilling over.
Leon tried desperately to soothe her.
With that, Olivia didn't spare them another glance. She strode forward, her steps firm and resolute.
She had no idea where Leon and Rachel were headed, but from this day on, they—and everything about them—were erased from her heart for good.
"Passengers heading to Westgate County, please board now," the announcement echoed through the station.
Olivia stepped onto the platform without looking back, determined to leave it all behind.
Olivia wanted to go home, but she knew that wasn't the finish line. She glanced at the people rushing past on the platform.
There was so much she needed to do. Leaving now was just so she could come back stronger.
When she returned, she'd be a brand new Olivia.
The sky was clear, and she couldn't help but smile—she was really happy.