Choosing the Interpreter Life Over Him

In this life, I refuse Ray Leger's suggestion to go live in the south with him. Instead, I go to the north alone and devote myself to the national translation service.

It is because in my previous life, I leave my hometown and follow him to a southern city. In the end, I become nothing more than a cash cow supporting him and Shannon Cross.

I work during the day and take on translation jobs at night.

Eventually, I collapse and cough up blood from exhaustion, only to hear Ray's disgusted remark.

"Nora Spencer, you really are useless. It has only been ten years, and you've already outlived your usefulness!"

I lift my head in a daze, and what I see are the mocking expressions on his and Shannon's faces.

Just before I die, I learn that our marriage certificate is fake. It is just Ray's excuse to trick me into going to the south with him.

When I open my eyes again, I see Ray trying to lure me with marriage once more. "Nora, as long as you come to the south with us, I will register our marriage right away!"

Hearing Ray Leger's words and seeing Shannon Cross's jealous expression, I felt like I was living in a dream. I couldn't believe I had actually been reborn.

Seeing my silence, Ray waved his hand in front of me. His expression was one of condescension, as if marrying me was some great favor he was bestowing.

"So, what do you say, Nora? Haven't you always wanted to marry me? You've wanted it for so long.

"Now I'm giving you this opportunity. As long as you agree, I'll have a friend help us get our marriage certificate tomorrow."

Hearing these words again, my eyes burned with tears. He said he'd have a friend get our marriage certificate, then trap me for life with a fake document. I thought about how I had slaved away for him for ten years in my previous life, only to watch him have children with another woman.

I was about to refuse when Shannon, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. Her face was full of arrogance, her eyes making no effort to hide her disgust.

"That's enough already, Nora. Only Ray can tolerate your wishy-washy attitude. Anyone else would have kicked you to the curb by now.

"Ray has already given you this opportunity, so don't be ungrateful and keep making a fuss. If he changes his mind, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Shannon's words were so absurd I almost laughed. Ever since my previous life, they had loved this little performance of theirs, working in tandem to beat down my spirit until I had nothing left.

I was a graduate from a top university with a prestigious job as a translator. Yet they had manipulated me so thoroughly that I believed no one else would want me besides Ray. It was as if marrying him was the greatest honor of my life.

But he was just a worker who hadn't even finished high school. He should have been grateful I ever gave him the time of day.

The refusal I had prepared died on my lips. I let out a cold laugh and looked at Ray calmly.

"Fine. Let's get married then. I don't have my documents with me right now. I'll have someone send them. We can go to the courthouse in three days."

Ray and Shannon exchanged a quick glance. Both looked delighted and smug, their conspiracy clearly succeeding.

I quietly took in every expression. A wave of desolation rose in my chest, and my nose stung with unshed tears. I squeezed my eyes shut to suppress the urge to cry.

In my previous life, I had never noticed these telling exchanges between them. I had simply thought Ray was biased toward Shannon because they were childhood friends.

I had been jealous and argued with him about it, but every time he pacified me, he would turn around and favor her again. I thought it was just habit.

Only now did I realize he had never cared about me at all. From beginning to end, I was just something to be used.

Watching Ray and his childhood sweetheart excitedly discuss which southern city they should live in, I calmly left the room and made a phone call at the newsstand.

"Professor, I'm ready to join the national translation service. I won't regret it, no matter what happens."