After being still for a long time, he raised his hand to stroke Melly’s hair.

His fingertips, which seemed to gently caress at first, gradually began to apply more pressure. Melly recalled the moment when Hudson grabbed her hair. Would this man… want to do the same?

His fingertips started to pull at her hair roots more and more.

Melly squeezed her eyes shut and clutched the sheets.

“……”

But suddenly the weight on her body lightened, and her hair fell softly onto the sheets. Then a scratchy summer blanket settled over her exposed clothing.

Melly carefully opened her eyes.

Edric was getting up from the bed and walking towards the door.

He stood still in front of the door for a moment, then turned his gaze over his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Melly quickly closed her eyes. But soon she heard the creaking of the door, and afterwards there was no sound of movement.

Melly opened her eyes again.

The room was empty. Beyond the wooden door of the small room, she heard him exit the shop entrance and lock it from the outside.

‘Did he really leave?’

Melly couldn’t relax, fearing he might change his mind and return.

But throughout that night, Edric did not come back.

Nor the next day. Nor the day after that…

The greenery past its peak was slowly preparing to change color.

The thick humidity in the air had thinned, and a cool breeze carried a hint of dryness.

Autumn had finally arrived.

As massive cumulonimbus clouds floated high in the sky creating a picturesque scene, the chatter of ladies walking side by side with parasols chirped like birdsong.

“So much has happened lately.”

“Indeed. These past few months have been more eventful than the twenty years I’ve lived in this village.”

“Who would have thought this peaceful, quiet village would become so lively?”

The lady with the light blue parasol said.

“I can’t believe that Mr. Hudson, known for his kindness, embezzled construction funds. It’s truly unbelievable.”

“That’s not all, is it? He also tricked innocent people into gambling and cleverly made them lose money.”

“I suppose you really can’t judge a book by its cover. I hope he gets properly punished this time.”

Another lady sighed and looked at the roof of the town hall visible through the willow branches.

The orange triangular roof jutted up sharply as if about to pierce and burst the lush clouds.

The once gloomy gray exterior walls were now solidly built with bright peach-colored granite, and at the entrance stood an imposing marble monument inscribed with the year the village was founded and notable events.

The ladies wore satisfied expressions as they looked at the modern building, unrecognizable from its old, shabby appearance.

“It’s truly a beautiful structure. It’s fortunate we changed the management and supervision, otherwise would we ever have seen such a building in our village?”

“Exactly. Otherwise, they would have just made it look fancy with cheap materials. Whoever reported Mr. Hudson will be blessed.”

The lady with the light blue parasol clicked her tongue as she spoke. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she quietly looked at the embossed logo on her parasol handle.

Her face contorted with regret.

“By the way, it’s such a shame what happened to that place.”

“You mean the Lumière tea house? I feel the same way. It was a rare high-class tea house in this neighborhood, and the prices were affordable too. Why did they suddenly close?”

“Maybe they thought it wasn’t profitable? Well, the prices were too low compared to the shop’s reputation.”

“Still, it’s a pity. The tea was delicious and also……”

She couldn’t finish her sentence, but people seemed to understand what she regretted.

They all felt the same way.

“But we still have another tea house.”

“Ah, that place……”

The ladies said, pouting their lips.

“Well, the tea at ‘Jade’ is tasty and cheap. But…… are you going to go there?”

Their faces clearly showed their reluctance. Well, it wasn’t unreasonable.

“How could that sweet and innocent-looking young mother… well, she’s not even a mother anymore. How could that young lady have deceived us all so perfectly?”

“I know. A fake pregnancy. She acted so convincingly that we all thought it was real.”

“But on the other hand, I feel a bit sorry for her. How hard must life have been for her to tell such a lie?”

“That may be true, but……”

Just as the compassionate ladies’ hearts were about to soften, the woman with the sky-blue parasol firmly steeled their resolve with a determined voice.

“Ladies. We mustn’t weaken. She deceived us all, for whatever reason. Mrs. Flora may have forgiven her, but I can’t. Do you know how much of that shop’s tea I sold?”

The ladies who had been listening quietly tilted their heads at the last part.

‘Madam… didn’t you hardly go there?’

‘That’s right. You were always in and out of the new tea house, weren’t you? And that was to see the owner’s face.’

While the two exchanged questioning glances, the woman with the sky-blue parasol, filled with a sense of justice, raised her voice once more.

“Such a person needs to be taught a lesson. So, ladies, never set foot in that place again from now on. Tell everyone around you the same. Understood?”

Though it seemed unnecessary to go that far, the two nodded in agreement.

After all, it was true that they had been deceived.

The tea house Jade was quiet to the point of desolation.

Even the few customers who used to come occasionally had now completely stopped.

But Melly didn’t idle. She worked diligently, maintaining the shop even more meticulously for any customers who might visit.

She climbed onto chairs to diligently sweep the corners lest cobwebs form. She also tried various things like rearranging the furniture and table layouts.

She would rest her chin on her hand, quietly gaze at the shop interior she had changed, and then nod. Or she would shake her head and mutter.

“Hmm, I think it was better before.”

And then she would put it back the way it was.

This had become her repeated daily routine lately.

She believed that even inanimate objects had memories. So, to prevent the chairs and tables from creaking or breaking due to the sudden reception of guests, she would sit at each table in turn and drink tea alone.

This made the place feel much more comfortable as warmth seeped into the seats.

Today, she decided to sit in the inner seat to drink tea. With an Assam tea bag steeping in a mug of hot water, she took a sip. She smiled, thinking how she could enjoy such leisure in the middle of a failing shop once she let go of her greed.

The events of the past few days deepened in her memory like the gradually steeping tea.

‘I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.’

When she appeared with her flattened belly and apologized, everyone in the village was shocked.

Above all, Mrs. Flora, the owner of the shop building, was the most shocked. Considering all the kindness she had shown, it was understandable. No, it was fortunate that she wasn’t thrown out on the spot.

‘It was because of us. We made her do it. Sister Sarah did nothing wrong.’

Leon and Elsa thankfully came to Melly’s defense. But Melly no longer wanted to hide behind them. She decided not to blame others for her own mistakes. She thought that was the first step to rectifying what was wrong.

‘No. Everything was my judgment and my actions. And… I’m not Sarah Dickins, I’m Melly. Melly Enwood.’

Despite Leon and Elsa’s earnest persuasion, the kind-hearted Mrs. Flora didn’t immediately evict Melly.

‘I’ll give you ten days. Clean up and leave within that time.’

Mrs. Flora’s eviction notice wasn’t at all unkind to Melly. Rather, Melly was deeply grateful that she could continue running this shop for ten more days.

She would do her best to tend to this place, Jade, during the remaining time. And then… she would leave cleanly.

Melly moved to sit in another spot. The smooth texture of the jute carpet under her slippers felt pleasant against her feet.

Once stained with the footprints and secretions of some beast-like man, now all traces were gone from the carpet. There was no value in remembering even a speck of dust about Hudson. He was completely forgotten. But…

Someone else who had been there was not forgotten.

The man who pointed a cold gun barrel at her as if he would really shoot.

The gentle ripples in his eyes, the movement of his Adam’s apple, remained deep and vivid in her mind. More lasting and clearer than even that shameless moment when he tried to violate her.

‘Do you dislike me that much?’

‘Yes. I dislike you. So hurry up and do what you want to do and stamp the divorce papers. That’s all I want.’

Perhaps her words had penetrated the solid walls surrounding his heart and pierced something deep inside. The man who had been consistently pushing with a shameless and vile attitude never set foot in this shop again after that day.

If she had known it would end so easily, she would have said so from the beginning.

Melly laughed hollowly as she cradled the teacup in both hands.

As the warm sensation seeped into her palms, she was certain. This must surely be the end of her connection with him.

“……”

Her brow furrowed slightly as she took another sip of tea.

It was probably because she hadn’t paid attention to the water temperature or steeping time, thinking it didn’t matter since she would be the one drinking it.

‘This won’t do.’

If she didn’t pay attention even when making tea for herself, her skills would quickly deteriorate.

With that in mind, she decided to make and drink another cup of tea.

Melly sat down and ordered aloud as if she were a customer.

“One Darjeeling tea, please.”

What she added was impulsive.

“To my taste.”

…Why? Why did she suddenly want to do that?

It was ridiculous even to think about it. Everyone does something silly once in a while, right?

This must surely be that kind of behavior.

‘What am I doing?’

Melly shook her head as if finding herself pathetic. Then she slowly drank the remaining tea and stood up.

“……”

She had a thought that her back felt oddly empty for some reason.

But she dismissed it, thinking it was just the chilly autumn breeze seeping through the door crack.

Not realizing it was the wind he had brought with him.

“No… when did you……”

Melly looked at Edric with a dazed expression.