Chapter 491: Chapter 491: His Care (5)
So, just as the manâs hand was about to reach for her, Vera Xavier, with lightning-fast reflexes, grabbed his wrist. Shifting her footing, she pulled him forward, bent at the waist, and sent him crashing to the ground.
The sudden turn of events startled the few men who had been watching for entertainment. The way they looked at her changed instantly.
She remarked coolly, "Why is it that bitches and scumbags love to hang out together these days?"
The manâs accomplices hadnât even processed what had happened before she finished speaking and, completely composed, walked back to her seat.
The man whoâd been thrown scrambled to his feet and yelled, "You little bitch! Got some fire in you, huh!"
He lunged to grab Vera Xavier, but a middle-aged man beside him held him back. "Thereâs something off about that broad, but donât rush it. Youâll get your chance to show her whoâs boss. Letâs take care of business first."
The man whoâd been thrown muttered a few more curses, then broke into a lewd grin, whispering nasty things like, "Iâll fuck her to death."
The commotion had naturally woken Nathaniel Nathan from his light sleep. He frowned and asked Vera Xavier, "What happened?"
Vera Xavier said softly, "I think theyâre train robbers."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the sound of steel pipes banging against the side of the train car echoed through the cabin. More than half the passengers were jolted awake. Their initial grumbles died in their throats the moment they saw the steel pipes in the menâs hands.
Then a manâs voice rang out. "To all our friends on this journey, it must be fate that brought us all together. My brothers and I have run into a bit of trouble, and weâre going to need you all to lend a hand!"
A cold glint appeared in Nathaniel Nathanâs eyes, and he let out a frigid snort.
Shane Caldwell was awake now, too. Heâd heard stories about this kind of thing happening on trains and immediately knew what was going on. He quickly put on his shoes, hurried over from the adjacent seat, and whispered to Vera Xavier, "Move further in. Iâll protect you."
Vera Xavier glanced at his somewhat skinny frame. âIn this situation,â she thought, âitâs hard to say whoâd be protecting whom.â
A burly man passing by glared at Shane Caldwell. "Get back to your own seat! Weâre just here for money, we donât want to see any blood!"
With that, he slammed his steel pipe hard against the wall of the car. The blow was so forceful that Vera Xavier felt a sharp pain in her eardrums.
He reached out, grabbed Shane Caldwell, and simply tossed him back toward his seat.
Vera Xavier: "..."
âSo much for that. Shane Caldwell really is just a weak scholar.â
Shane Caldwell was furious. "Let go of me! We live in a society of laws! What youâre doing is illegal, and you will be punished!"
The man roared with laughter. "Thatâs right, itâs a society of laws! Thatâs why weâre being so reasonable. Weâve just hit a rough patch and need a little help from everyone. And this young man here looks like the kind-hearted type!"
As he spoke, he snatched the bag Shane Caldwell had left by his pillow. He opened it to find it stuffed with cash, which made him grin even wider. "Well, well! Look what we have here, a real moneybags! Weâll just borrow this for now. Weâll pay you back some other day!"
That was Shane Caldwellâs tuition money. The Caldwell Family wouldnât have cared about the amount, but Shane couldnât let this slideâespecially not with Vera Xavier watching. He had to save face.
He reached out to grab the bag back, but the man sent him sprawling with a swift kick, leaving him unable to even get back on his feet.
From the other end of the car, a womanâs shrill cry rang out: "Thatâs my husbandâs life-saving medical money! You canât take it!"