"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."

That evening, Jesse took Courtney to the beach. The place was bustling with people, and he kept an arm securely around her to shield her from the crowd.

The next moment, dazzling fireworks exploded in the sky. Soon, the fireworks lit up the entire night sky.

"Wow, is someone proposing? This is stunning!"

"Look at all those fireworks! Did they buy out the entire supply in the city?"'

"How romantic! If a man did this for me, I'd marry him in a heartbeat!"

Courtney let out a small smile when she heard that.

Young girls were so easily swept off their feet, she thought. A single display of fireworks could win their hearts, and they'd promise a lifetime of love without hesitation.

However, Courtney wasn't so gullible.

Jesse had asserted that a man's love and lust were separated, but not for her. No matter how much he claimed to love her, betrayal was betrayal, and she could never forgive it.

"Babe, look!" Jesse pointed to some fireworks bursting in the sky.

It formed two letters—J and H. Jesse Hawthorn. Next, a large pink heart appeared, and afterward, another set of letters—C and L. Courtney Lloyd.

Jesse leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I'll love you forever. Let's be together for the rest of our lives, okay?"

Before Courtney could respond, he got on one knee and loudly declared, "I love you, Courtney Lloyd. Forever and always, in this life and the next. I'll never stop loving you!"

The crowd erupted into applause, mixed with squeals of delight and admiration from the women.

One girl asked, "Are you proposing to your girlfriend?"

Jesse smiled and shook his head. "We've been married for four years."

"Is it her birthday? Or your wedding anniversary?"

"Neither."

The girl was confused. "Then why go all out like this?"

Jesse gazed at Courtney passionately as he answered, "I just wanted my wife to know how deeply I love her. She's been a little unhappy lately, and I wanted to make her smile again."

Another wave of awed gasps rippled through the crowd.

Courtney found herself the subject of countless envious stares, but only she knew the reality.

Her husband had been unfaithful for four years. He'd held another woman's hand, kissed her lips, and spent countless nights with her.

A little girl approached, holding out a glow stick. "This is for you. I hope you two stay together forever."

Courtney turned to Jesse. "Did you tell her to do that?"

Jesse shook his head. "No. I guess she's moved by our beautiful love story."

Courtney returned the glow stick to the kid and said, "Thank you, but I can't accept it."

She tilted her head dumbfoundedly. "Why not?"

Because their relationship was far from beautiful. It was riddled with lies, betrayal, and deceit. Such a love story shouldn't be idolized by innocent children.

Jesse gently reassured the little girl, saying. "I'll buy her a glow stick later. Thank you. Now, go back to your parents, okay?"

"Mister, you must have a baby girl with your wife. She'd be as pretty as her mom!"

Jesse chuckled. "All right, I'll work on it."

When he returned to Courtney's side, he half-jokingly suggested, "Babe, let's have a daughter."

Courtney asked, "Do you really want kids?"

"Actually, I prefer just the two of us. But don't most women want a child with the man they love?"

"That's what M—"

Courtney stopped herself just in time, nearly blurting out Mia's name.

She wanted to confront him and demand to know the truth about his relationship with Mia. Would he continue their affair? How were the three of them supposed to coexist moving forward?

But then she noticed the mark on Jesse's neck—a love bite left by Mia, still visible after days.

Courtney averted her gaze, unwilling to look further or to raise her questions.

It would be pointless anyway. She didn't want to be the type of woman who screamed at her cheating husband in public and caused a scene. She still had her pride.

If he wouldn't change, then she would. She'd take the memory-erasing potion, move to a city where no one knew her, and start over.

"What were you saying earlier?" Jesse asked.

Courtney shook her head. "I was saying that most women think that way, but not me."

"You don't want to have children with me?"

"No."

"Are you scared of the pain or that it'll damage your body? Don't be. I'll love you no matter what."

"Let's go home."

"Are you mad? I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to upset you. It's fine if you don't want kids. We'll stick to just the two of us."

Courtney paused mid-step.

Exactly. While she wouldn't bear his child, someone else might.

He'd spent an hour and forty minutes with Mia in the car that day. For all she knew, Mia could already be pregnant with his child.

"What's wrong—"

Jesse's phone rang, interrupting him. He glanced at the screen and answered the call irritatedly, "Didn't I say not to bother me for the next few days? I'm with my wife..."

Whatever was said on the other end made his expression falter.

"Fine, I'll be there soon."

Hanging up, Jesse turned to Courtney and said, "Babe, something urgent came up at work. Let me get a taxi to take you home, okay?"

"I'll get one myself. Work's important. You should go ahead."

"You're the best. Text me when you get home safely."

With that, Jesse hurried off in his car.

Courtney did hail a taxi, but she didn't head home. Instead, she told the driver, "Follow that car."