The Choice to Forget

Jesse laughed softly. "That day will never come. I won't give you the chance to leave me."

When he leaned in to hug her again, Courtney stood abruptly as the unpleasantly cloying scent on him that came from his night with Mia repulsed her.

"I'm getting a spoon," she said.

Jesse immediately followed suit. "I'll get it for you."

"No need. I've got it."

In the kitchen, Courtney turned on the faucet and let the sound of running water cover her quiet sobs.

It wasn't that she was weak. It was just that the Jesse she used to know had been so perfect and so good to her that the wonderful memories brought tears to her eyes.

Growing up in an orphanage, Courtney had hardened her heart from being bullied and looked down upon. She'd never planned to fall in love or marry. But then Jesse came along.

He'd rescued her from lecherous clients and had declared she belonged to him.

At first, Courtney assumed Jesse was only interested in her looks just like the others.

Nonetheless, he had done nothing untoward. Conversely, he'd told her gently, "Go home, get some rest, and forget about today. Tomorrow will be a new day."

From then on, he became a constant presence in her life. Occasionally, he would show up at her company for business discussions or run into her at a cafe.

While Jesse had always been gentlemanly and polite, his interest in Courtney was evident.

When they started dating, he treated her like a treasure and never pressured her into anything she wasn't comfortable with.

"Until we're married," he'd said, "you're free to change your mind. I won't force you. I want you to willingly be my wife."

Yet, their engagement had faced opposition from the Hawthorn family.

Not wanting to strain his relationship with his parents, Courtney had tearfully suggested they break up. But Jesse had held her hand firmly and promised, "Don't cry. I'll take care of it."

Afterward, he'd started a business from scratch while enduring relentless pressure from his parents, who tried to force him to comply with their demands.

Jesse had shouldered it all, even drinking himself into half a damaged liver in the process.

Then came the car accident.

At that moment, Jesse had pushed Courtney to safety, while he and the car were struck off the road by a massive truck. The vehicle had rolled violently before catching fire.

The crash had nearly killed him, leaving him with severe injuries and months in a coma. Only Courtney's voice seemed to stir him when she spoke to him at his bedside.

It was then that his parents were moved by Jesse's devotion and finally accepted her.

Courtney cherished their hard-won marriage and the man who had loved her so deeply.

But unexpectedly, Jesse's heart had strayed in just three years.

"Babe, everything okay? You've been gone a while," Jesse called out.

"I'm fine."

Courtney wiped her tears, turned off the faucet, and picked up a spoon. But her hand shook, and the spoon slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor.

As she crouched down to retrieve it, her eyes inadvertently caught a secretive act happening beneath the dining table.

Mia was wearing the heels Courtney had bought for her, and she was lightly grazing the tip of her shoe along Jesse's calf. Slowly, she crept upward to his knee, then his thigh, until...

His hand caught her ankle and gave it a playful squeeze. "Stop being naughty."

"Relax. Courtney's not back yet."

"Behave yourself. Don't do anything in front of her. Wait until we get out later…"

Courtney made a deliberate noise, startling them into stillness. Then, back at the table, she sat down as if nothing had happened.

Jesse served her some vegetables, saying, "Eat more greens, Babe. They're good for you."

Mia cast them an envious gaze and remarked innocently, "I hope I find someone like Jesse someday."

"You will," Courtney replied coldly.

Mia didn't catch the edge in her voice and continued, "No way. Jesse's the most wonderful man in the world. I'm not that lucky."

Courtney stated, "You are."

Just then, Courtney's phone rang.

"Hello, Ms. Lloyd. You have a delivery."

This time, Jesse answered the door before Courtney could. He returned with an envelope and frowned at the sender.

"Voyage Airlines… Babe, did you buy a plane ticket? Where are you going? Why didn't you tell me?"