Chapter 2

Professor Helen Morrison's worried voice came through the receiver almost immediately.

"Nora, are you sure about this? This position requires you to go abroad. Once you're overseas, you'll barely have any time for your personal life.

"And there are significant risks abroad. Who knows what could happen?"

"Professor, if I've made this decision, it means I've thought it through completely." My voice was calm but filled with absolute conviction.

Professor Morrison reluctantly agreed and said someone would come for me. After hanging up, I returned to the house.

Ray looked surprised to see me walk in from outside. "Nora, where were you? I didn't even see you leave."

I bit down on the inside of my cheek until it felt raw. But of course. His eyes were only for Shannon. When had he ever actually noticed me?

I smiled at him and said with self-mockery, "I jumped out the window. I wanted to test whether I could escape that way if there was an emergency."

Ray didn't even question this ridiculous lie. He waved his hand dismissively, frowning.

"Fine, whatever. I don't care how you got out. Do what you want, just don't interrupt Shannon and me while we're deciding which city to live in."

Seeing his indifferent expression, I took a deep breath to suppress the desolation rising in my chest. I thought I had long since moved past any feelings for him, but that single sentence still managed to stir something painful inside me.

I went back to my room and packed all my translation books into a box to mail to the capital. This time, Ray actually noticed.

Seeing me about to leave with the large box, he rushed over and grabbed my wrist. It was as if he feared I might leave.

Of course, he was worried. Without my funding their plans, their dream of moving south would fall apart.

"Where are you going with all that stuff?"

I frowned. I could feel how nervous he was. His entire body was tense.

"A classmate from school borrowed some books. I'm mailing them over. I also need to check at the post office when my documents arrive."

Hearing my excuse, Ray relaxed visibly. He rifled through the box in my hands, and only after confirming it was all books did he let me go.

His expression returned to that familiar mix of disdain and impatience. He waved toward the door like he was shooing away a beggar.

"Fine, go on then. Just hurry back. Shannon and I are waiting for dinner."

My hands had already clawed through the cardboard bottom of the box. My fingers dug into the box so hard they hurt.

All these years, I had been too accommodating, too concerned with his feelings. So much so that he now felt entitled to order me around like a servant.

I stopped outside the door, about to refuse. But then I overheard him talking with Shannon.

"Shannon, are we really doing the right thing here?"

"What are you worried about? You're willing to marry her, even if it's just on paper. Nora should be thrilled. What's not right about it?"

"You're right. After all, besides me, who else would want a bookworm like her?"

Every word out of their mouths painted me as worthless. In my previous life, I might have burst in and argued with them endlessly. But now I just laughed quietly and headed straight for the post office.

Without thinking, I stepped on a dead branch outside the door. It cracked loudly.

Ray rushed out. Seeing I hadn't gone far, he looked slightly guilty as he probed, "Nora, you didn't hear anything just now, did you?"

I shook my head faintly and kept walking forward. The sky suddenly opened up with light rain. Ray ran back inside and grabbed an umbrella, holding it over my head.

"It's raining. Let me go to the post office with you."

I was frowning, trying to figure out how to refuse him, when Shannon came out at just the right moment and looped her arm through his.

"Ray, I heard there's a circus in town today. Come watch it with me?"

The man who had just offered to accompany me to the post office immediately hesitated. He looked at me with difficulty.

I took the hint and refused for him. "You don't need to worry about me. I'm just mailing something. I can go by myself."

I didn't even take the umbrella Ray held out. I pulled up my collar and rushed out of the courtyard into the rain.