When Caleb Miller got the approval to transfer back to the city, the two family quota spots were already assigned—— His fifteen-year-old sister, Tess, and the city girl, Molly White. The only one left out was me, his fiancée. Caleb had no parents; his sister was his only blood relative and couldn't be left behind. Molly was his mentor's daughter, frail and sickly, unable to survive the harsh life in this rural town. "Nora, I can't leave Molly alone. My marriage to her is just on paper, it's fake." "You're tough and hardworking, waiting a few more years won't hurt." "Once I get established, I'll come back for you." He said the exact same thing in my past life. Until I saw him buying birth control with Molly at the pharmacy. This time, I won't wait. I packed my bags and boarded the train heading south. 1 When the news of Caleb's transfer came, I was tidying up the yard. The Mayor ran in like a gust of wind, the wrinkles on his face blooming into a smile. He waved the document in his hand. "Nora, your hard days are finally over. Caleb's name is on the transfer list to the city university!" I didn't have much education, but I knew what that document meant. It was a transfer order from Western University. Caleb was one of the few college graduates in our era and a rare talent, so the university offered him a generous package. Not only a high monthly salary, but also two spots for family dependents to move with him. This was a privilege no one else had. The Mayor was still earnestly counting for me. "Caleb can bring two family members, just enough to take you and Tess away from this dusty town!" Tess was Caleb's sister, fifteen this year, the age for high school, and couldn't be delayed any longer. And I was his fiancée, the one who had supported him through these three difficult years in the countryside. Of course, I should go as family. Suddenly, a fit of coughing interrupted the Mayor's happy ramblings. "Sister Nora, is the medicine ready? It's been two hours, I can't stand the coughing anymore." "Molly White, why are you at Nora's house again? Their life is hard enough, and you're just adding to the burden. Don't you have a place at the hostel? You never do your own work..." Molly walked out of the back room, obviously just waking up. At this time of day, she should have been working, but ever since she practically moved into my house, Caleb did all her work for her, while the washing and cooking fell to me. 2 Molly was the daughter of Caleb's mentor. After the mentor passed away, Caleb brought her into our lives. Caleb had said, "Professor White was my benefactor. Molly is frail and sickly, she can't handle hardship. You are my fiancée, so naturally, you should help me take care of her." She stayed for three years. She got sick every few days, and I brewed her medicine every time. Everyone thought this was my responsibility. Including my future sister-in-law, Tess. "Nora is a country girl anyway, isn't it right for her to do some work? Should we let Sister Molly ruin her hands?" Tess had always looked down on me. Although Molly was afraid of the Mayor, the Mayor couldn't control Tess. Spoiled rotten by Caleb, she made no secret of her disdain for me. That's why the Mayor said my suffering was finally over. Once in the city, I wouldn't have to serve Molly anymore, and Tess would live in the school dorms, so I wouldn't have to put up with her temper. Just then, Caleb came back from work. Sensing the tension, he asked, "What's wrong?" "I know I'm a burden, and it's normal for Sister Nora to be unhappy, but Brother Caleb walked ten miles overnight to the town to get this medicine for me. I don't want to waste his kindness..." Molly was a year older than me, but she had that pure, innocent face. Every time she followed Tess in calling me "Sister," I felt sick. Her teary-eyed look worked every single time. "Nora, how many times have I told you, Molly's illness can't be delayed! How can you be so cruel!" His fierce look made it seem like I was a villain hurting his beloved wife. But the moment Molly tugged at his sleeve, he softened immediately. "Still have a fever?" He touched her forehead tenderly. Molly pretended to be shy, glanced at me fearfully, and muttered, "Sister Nora will be angry..." Caleb's face changed instantly, and he snorted coldly at me, "What right does she have to be angry? She's the one who forgot the medicine!" In front of me, Caleb was always calm and stoic. Even when he proposed, he was indifferent, making me look like an excited fool jumping around. Back then, I felt ashamed, thinking that's just how intellectuals were—calm and composed. I wanted to be like him. But I was wrong. His restraint was only for me. Love and lack of love are very obvious. In my past life, I didn't understand. I thought I just wasn't good enough. But now I see it clearly. He doesn't love me, so his emotions aren't affected by me. He loves Molly, so chaos ensues when she's involved. So in this life, I won't be swayed anymore. I have my own path to walk. 3 When I returned from the Mayor's house, Caleb was holding the document with a serious face. Tess was annoyed from waiting, "Nora, where did you go? The medicine isn't ready, and dinner isn't cooked." Tess never called me sister-in-law, always excluding me emotionally, yet taking my service for granted. "I ate at the Mayor's house. If you're hungry, cook for yourselves." "You!" Tess and Molly had never done a day of housework in their lives, let alone Caleb, a man who thought the kitchen was beneath him. But this time, Caleb said nothing. "Alright, alright... Nora, I have something to discuss with you." Hesitant and slow. I didn't want to waste time with him. "You mean the quota for moving to the city." Caleb was stunned, not expecting me to say it directly. He laughed dryly, "So you already know." Tess, impatient with her brother's stalling, jumped in. "It's better if you know. There are only two family spots for the transfer, just enough for me and Sister Molly." She glanced at Molly proudly, as if claiming credit for putting me in my place. Molly smiled helplessly, "You child, you can't keep a secret." Then, as if realizing she said something wrong, she nervously grabbed Caleb's wrist. Caleb responded by patting her hand gently to comfort her. "Nora, I made this decision. It has nothing to do with Molly." I didn't speak, just looked at him quietly. Caleb frowned, wanting to say something, but Molly squeezed his wrist. He fell silent for a moment, then spoke. "Tess is fifteen, she needs to go to high school. There's no high school here. If she doesn't go to the city, her life will be ruined." Caleb's parents were dead, Tess was his only blood relative, so he had to take her. I nodded. Caleb looked at me and continued. "Molly... Professor White was my benefactor. If he hadn't sponsored my education, I wouldn't have this opportunity at West University. Molly is weak and can't survive the hard life here, so I must take her back." He emphasized the word "must" heavily. As if warning me that there was no room for compromise. I was tired and wanted to sleep. "Is there anything else?" "Nora, you..." "Of course there is! In two days, my brother is going to apply for a marriage license with Sister Molly!" Tess couldn't wait to see my shocked, angry, and desperate expression. Unfortunately for her, I felt nothing but calm. "Okay. You guys should get some rest." I turned to go into my room. Caleb panicked slightly. He shook off Molly's hand and blocked my path. "Are you angry? I can't leave Molly alone. My marriage to her is fake." "It's the only way. Molly isn't like you; you grew up in the country, you're tough and can handle hardship. Waiting a few more years won't hurt you." "Once I'm settled, I'll come back for you." "I'll come back to visit you every month." I nodded again, "Okay. When are you leaving?" 4 In my previous life, although I was in pain, I believed his lies. I watched them happily leave for the city, looking like a perfect family of three. But I waited for half a year, and Caleb never came back. Everyone in the village said I was a fool, that Caleb would never return. I went to the city, anxious to find answers. When I finally saw Caleb again, there was no surprise on his face, only ugliness. "Why are you here?" He didn't see my shoes worn through from walking because I couldn't afford a ticket, nor my cracked, pale lips. Only blame. At that moment, Molly and a school doctor walked out. Only then did I realize we were at the university clinic. "Professor Chen, your wife is in poor health, it's best not to get pregnant right now. Take these contraceptives. Come back if you need more." Molly's face was flushed, her fist gently hitting Caleb's chest. "It's all your fault..." I realized then that their marriage wasn't fake at all. It was just an excuse to get rid of me. "Nora, this isn't the countryside. If people know I, a university professor, have an illiterate country wife, I'll be a laughingstock. Molly is educated and smart; she's suitable to be my wife." He knew I was illiterate from the start. I remembered the first day he came to work in the fields, he fainted. I took him home and nursed him back to health. Since then, he came to my house whenever he was hungry. He devoured my simple food, saying he'd never get tired of it. Everything happened naturally, and we got engaged. He moved from the crowded hostel to my house, escaping the snoring and smells of other men. Caleb was satisfied then. He said from then on he had a wife, a full stomach, and good sleep. Later, when Tess had nowhere to go, he brought her here too. Like him, my parents were dead, but I had land and wouldn't starve. Raising three people was hard, but I had no regrets, thinking this is what family does. But I never expected Caleb despised me all along. He was with me just for food, a babysitter for Tess, and a stepping stone to be with Molly. I fainted on the spot. When I woke up, I was alone in the hospital. I tried to find him again, but unfamiliar with the city traffic, I was hit by a car and died. Fortunately, I was reborn. This time, I won't ruin my life for them.
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