When Grey stepped out the door, the mature woman froze, her eyes widening in surprise before her face brightened with a smile full of excitement.
"What's your name?" Grey asked curiously.
"My name is Sophie," she replied softly, a tear glimmering at the corner of her eye.
Grey rubbed the back of his head with a helpless expression. "Cough, cough…" He hadn't even realized how much he'd neglected her until now, enough to make her look as though she might burst into tears.
"Come inside," he said lightly, turning back toward the shop.
Sophie hurried after him, following him into his simple room.
***
The people around were secretly observing Grey's every movement, curiosity flickering in their eyes.
"Is he finally tired of playing with Lucy?" one of them muttered with a sneer.
Lucy, stationed at the counter, twitched her ears at the remark but remained composed, continuing her work as if she hadn't heard a thing.
