Chapter 4. Jumping

Rachel lost her cool and brushed the basket of fruits down.

The freak woman became the market’s star after throwing them out onto the street.

She threw the tomatoes everywhere, to the obscene mouths of people huddling in the middle of the day to end her existence, as if her ears were closed and she couldn’t hear anything. Rachel ran away from the eggs on the ground, releasing her rage, and the vendor swarmed to calm her down.

“With one insult from your fissured lips, I’ll set fire to your store!”

Her dress is already soiled. Ada took a step back, taken aback by her lady’s hasty action.

The crowd gathered around her, spreading the rumor and inflaming her rage. “You have no right to tell me that my husband left with the Minister of Justice because I can’t bear children!” Rachel yelled. “Will you prefer to hear that if I am your beloved daughter?”

Rachel is sick, and she is terrified of people. They are quick to judge but unable to reflect.

“I’m sick of your offensive mouth, old lady! Do you think I’ll do this to you when I’ve been buying your products for years if you’re not insulting me?”

Women are mistreated. Marriage requires both people to work together, but if one person divorces, women are to blame. Only the girl was blamed, and Rachel puked just thinking about it.

“You, too, are a woman, living on the side streets and selling goods to everyone, including the youngest member of Wales’s diligent Han family! I’m not going to say my title to you, but your arrogant words have insulted who I am!”

Rachel took another egg and tossed it to her head. The elderly lady did not argue.

The path out of the circle spontaneously spread. People began to fear her authority.

***

Rachel lacks the energy to return home. It was late at night, and she had fled the mansion while Ada was cooking. She desired solitude but not loneliness.

Rachel put on the bonnet and wrapped her arms around the woolen cardigan.

Rachel heard her name again as she sniffed the smell of cigarettes. What happened during the market commotion raised concerns about Rachel’s deranged mind.

“She’s insane. When Luther abandoned her, she went insane.”

“A lawyer never lies. She must be a jerk.”

“I heard Rachel never completed anything. She lacked a college diploma.”

“So that’s why she chose Amira over Rachel,” someone pointed out. “It’s preferable to be with a Minister of Justice than with someone who knows nothing.”

Everyone at the Heartless Pub is talking about her. Rachel was terrified of coming out.

Eggs may fly in all directions when they see her. It will shatter her.

“It’s best not to play for the time being, Lady Han. People are talking about you.”

Conrad Duchess, at the end of the day, cared about his business, not the constant guess.

“Oh, yes. I should avoid it for the time being. But my final game is the day after tomorrow.”

Conrad was aware of her decision to leave. He has no regrets about the decision he made today.

“I know Luther Griffin is a jerk, Rachel, but temper should be a priority.”

For the past five years, she has been exceedingly patient. Her heart could no longer bear the hatred.

“If that’s what you’re thinking, Mr. Duchess, I’m sure you’re aware that my patience ran out following my husband’s betrayal.”

***

When her young lady sneaked out of the mansion, Ada must have frantically searched the entire area. Rachel hid on one of the church balconies, where it was forbidden for women to remove their veil. Rachel, fortunately, changed her dress to one of despondency.

Ezekiel was alarmed when he heard a servant’s desperate words. He’s walking home, distraught over Rachel’s absence from the Heartless Pub. Ada dashed over to the man who recognized Rachel’s face.

“Master, have you seen my young lady? She’s gone!” Ada was irritated.

“Are you referring to the pianist woman?” Ezekiel raised his bowler hat.

“She left the house without saying anything to me!”

Rachel scurried to the church’s corner, helpless. She agreed to leave him alone for a few hours. Rachel turned in another alley, checking her back, after someone successfully diverted Ezekiel and Ada’s words.

She removed her veil, stood tall, and exited the narrow street.

Right now, no one can see her. It’s impossible to recognize her with her hair flowing.

Rachel looked around the deserted streets and noticed a pub in the distance. Within a few meters, it was brightly glowing. Rachel was about to enter and hide when she noticed two familiar silhouettes.

She stood there like a moron, perplexed.

“I really wanted to be here,” Amira said as she walked down the deserted cobblestone path.

“Let’s drink until we’re wasted,” Luther said confidently. Rachel remained motionless.

Luther looked at her. Rachel abruptly averted her gaze. He might have noticed a familiar dress, but Rachel would never walk past 9 p.m. Rachel dislikes crowded places.

Luther realized she was a princess.

Luther snatched Amira’s arms and dragged her inside the bar.

Rachel took a left. She has no set destination in mind. Rachel was walking at the soiled portico of what they call an eternity river, her chignon covered by a black veil. Tale stated that once someone jumped inside, she would never resurface.

Rachel let go of the veil and breathed in the crisp air.

“It had become too much. It was too much…” Rachel clung to the railings.

A torrent of tears streamed down her cheeks as a torrent of tears appeared inside her. She was lonely.

How can Luther abandon her for no apparent reason? How did Amira Edwidge manage to corner him?

Crushed, the only way to alleviate the pain is to die. Rachel looked out at the murkiness of the eternity river and the crashing waves. She’s terrified, but nothing can make her pain go away.

Rachel apologized, “I express regret to the people I will leave behind,” as she gazed at the starry skies. “Please whisper these words to the stars who shimmered as my witnesses, and I hope they reach their ears like my bare mumbles.”

Rachel’s chest hurt a lot. The chaos inside her head perplexed her.

She wore off her shoes, and paired them straight. Rachel’s wrath cannot be undone.

Rachel turned to look at the landscape as she jumped from the other side, admiring the twinkling arc lights of the streets. She noticed a familiar shadow at a distance—the it’s man in the bowler hat. Rachel gave a heartfelt smile before letting go and falling back.

Her body fell into the Eternity River. She vanished from view the moment Ezekiel climbed aboard to save her.

“Dear Lady Rachel!” Ada sobbed.