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?"

"It's a gift I redeemed with points," Courtney responded.

Jesse heaved a sigh of relief. "Oh, you scared me. I thought you were leaving me."

Courtney took the envelope from him and said, "Why would I leave you? You didn't betray me."

Jesse grinned. "Exactly. My heart belongs to you alone."

Once, his words would've melted her. Now, it left her cold.

"What did you redeem?" Jesse asked, curious.

"Just a little souvenir."

"Voyage Airlines makes souvenirs now?"

"Apparently."

Courtney returned to her room and opened the envelope. Inside was a plane ticket for a flight to Alorian scheduled for a week later. She had purchased it under the name Nessa.

Her phone also displayed tracking information for an international package—a memory-erasing potion sent by Melvin Clark, expected to arrive within the same timeframe.

Seven days from now would mark the end of Courtney's relationship with Jesse.

From downstairs, Jesse's voice called out, "Babe, are you feeling unwell?"

"I didn't sleep well last night," she replied. "I'm a bit tired and want to take a nap."

"Alright, get some rest. Mia has class this afternoon, so I'll give her a ride on my way to the office."

"Okay."

Courtney didn't sleep. Instead, she moved to the window and looked outside.

Mia clung to Jesse's arm like an overjoyed bunny as he opened the car's passenger door for her.

When she sneaked a quick peck on the cheek, he cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss. It started on her cheek, moved to her lips, and continued downward…

Courtney didn't see the rest.

The two of them got into the car, but she could see it shaking and rocking.

When it finally ended, Courtney glanced at the timer on her phone.

One hour and 40 minutes.

It seemed the two were perfectly in sync. After indulging themselves the entire night, they still weren't satisfied. She had barely stepped away, and they couldn't wait to go at it again in the car.

When the car finally drove off, Courtney let out a breath of relief and began packing her clothes.

Melvin had told her that drinking the memory-erasing potion would wipe away all her memories. Thus, she labeled her belongings neatly with notes, including her daily items and habits.

Finally, she went to a jewelry workshop. She removed her wedding ring and handed it to the clerk.

The clerk nervously took the ring and asked, "Ma'am, are you looking to exchange this for another design? This looks like a wedding ring. Does your husband's ring need to be exchanged as well?"

"No," Courtney replied. "Melt it."

"What?"

"I said, melt it."

"Understood..."

Half an hour later, Courtney left the shop with a small red velvet box in hand.

When she returned home, she ran into Jesse rushing out in a panic. The house was crowded with people, ranging from police officers to bodyguards, and maids.

Jesse's eyes were red-rimmed, and the moment he saw her, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Babe, where were you? You scared me to death!"

His grip was so tight that Courtney could barely breathe.

One of the officers chuckled. "Mr. Hawthorn can finally relax now that Mrs. Hawthorn is back."

The maid chimed in, "Mrs. Hawthorn, Mr. Hawthorn was frantic when he couldn't find you at home. He noticed you had packed your clothes and thought you'd left for good. He was so frightened."

"That's right, Mrs. Hawthorn," another added. "Mr. Hawthorn even called for the best private investigator and said we'd all be fired if we couldn't find you."

Jesse clung to Courtney and rambled in distress, "Babe, where did you go? Were you hurt? Are you hungry or cold?"

Courtney pulled away from him indifferently. "I only went out for a walk."

"But I couldn't get through your phone."

Courtney showed him her phone and shrugged. "The battery died, that's all."

"Then what about the packed clothes?"

"I was sorting out old clothes to donate."

Only then did Jesse exhale deeply. He said, "Okay. I'm glad I was just overthinking it. Babe, promise me you'll never leave me. I'd go insane."

The commotion subsided at last.

Before leaving, a police officer said smilingly to Courtney, "I've handled many missing persons cases over the years, but I've never seen a husband as devoted as Mr. Hawthorn. Don't make him worry again."

Jesse defended her with a displeased frown. "Courtney only went for a walk. Worrying about her is my business. It's not her fault."

The officer shook his head, amused. "You're right. As long as your wife is safe and sound."

Courtney apologized to the officers and saw them out.

Jesse stayed glued to her side the entire time, unwilling to let her out of his sight. When he noticed the velvet box in her hand, his eyes lit up. "Babe, did you get new jewelry?"

Courtney replied, "It's for you."

"For me?"

"Yes. Your birthday gift."

"Thank you, babe! Can I open it now?"

"Let's wait until your birthday."

Jesse's 30th birthday was a week away; the same day, her flight would depart at 5:00 am.

By the time he woke up and opened the velvet box to find a lump of platinum and a diamond, Courtney would've taken the memory-erasing potion and crossed the border.

Their story had begun with this ring, so it was only fitting for it to end with it.

In the following days, Jesse seemed afraid Courtney might disappear again. He canceled all his work and stayed home with her every day.

He cooked meals, watched TV shows with her, and went on walks in the park together.

For a moment, Courtney felt as though they had returned to the early days of their relationship when they'd been so in love and loyal to each other.

Yet, the endless incoming messages on her phone shattered that illusion.

Mia texted, "Courtney, I saw you by the window that day.

"I know you saw what happened between me and Jesse in the car. To be honest, we've been together since four years ago, right when you first started sponsoring my studies.

"I became his woman when I was 18. I don't want to spend my life treating him like a brother.

"Courtney, you gave me money to attend college, opened my horizons, and introduced me to the most wonderful man.

"I'll show you that he can't live without me."

Then, she sent a video. It was long—an hour and 40 minutes.

The moment Courtney saw the duration, she already knew what it was.

While Jesse went to buy her a drink, she tapped on the video.

Inside the cramped car, Jesse's face was filled with pleasure. He pinned Mia against the seatback, relentless despite her sobbing pleas for him to stop.

After that, Mia traced circles on his body and teased, "Do you think this is fair to Courtney?"

Jesse merely chuckled and said, "A man's love and lust are separated. I genuinely love her, but I can't get enough of your body either."

"So, we'll never be officially together?"

"I can give you anything but a title."

"What if I want a child?"

After a moment of thought, Jesse replied, "Then we won't use protection today. It'll feel better anyway."

Courtney couldn't bear to watch any longer and closed the video.

When Jesse returned, he handed her a bottle of water and said, "Babe, here. I had the store heat it for you. The weather's cold. It'll help warm you up."

Courtney took the bottle. It was indeed warm.

Jesse then cupped her cheeks with his hands, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Why is your face so cold? You look pale. Are you feeling unwell?"

She turned her face away to avoid his touch. "No. I just saw a video earlier that made me feel sick."

"You should skip videos like that next time. Don't watch them."

"Yeah, I'll never watch them again."