The Choice to Forget

It was 9:30 am.

Courtney Lloyd sat propped against the headboard, wrapped in a blanket. The other side of the bed was empty, and she could hear faint, intimate voices coming from the guest room next door.

"Missed me already?"

"I only see you once a month. It feels like forever."

The man chuckled softly. "Then let me take good care of you today."

"Keep your voice down; don't wake Courtney."

"Don't worry, she stayed up late last night. She won't wake up any time soon."

"You're so naughty…"

Courtney recognized the girl's voice immediately. It belonged to Mia Sanchez, a college student who she had provided financial aid for the past four years.

On the first of every month, Mia would visit their home. Courtney would hand her the monthly living expenses, check on her studies, and offer life advice.

Then, Mia would stay in the guest room next to the master bedroom.

Courtney had even arranged Mia's graduate advisor and internship for her.

But instead of striving for independence, the girl's ambition was to steal Courtney's husband.

If that was the case, she could have him.

Courtney had already changed her name to Nessa Hill and reapplied for all her documents.

Once a cheater, always a cheater. She'd decided she would disappear from his world and take a memory-erasing potion to forget about him.

The sounds from the guest room finally stopped.

Courtney lay down and pretended to be asleep. A few minutes later, the mattress dipped slightly beside her, and a heavy arm draped over her waist.

Suppressing the bitterness welling up inside her, Courtney pushed the arm away.

Jesse Hawthorn stirred, mumbling, "Babe, you're awake?"

Courtney felt sick at the pet name.

"Yeah, you'd better get up. You're going to be late for work."

Jesse rolled over to pull her close and kissed her shoulder. "I'm so tired. Stay with me a little longer."

Courtney almost scoffed. Tired from last night's "work," no doubt.

She jokingly asked, "Trouble sleeping last night?"

Jesse nodded earnestly and said, "I dreamed an evil dragon snatched you from me. I fought all night to find you and woke up exhausted."

"No dragon will ever snatch me away."

However, she would leave of her own accord, and he would never be able to find her.

Jesse glanced at the clock. "You're right. It's late. I should get up."

Then, he took a quick shower, got dressed, and knelt by the bed to kiss Courtney. "Come on, get up and wash up. I'll make breakfast."

After Jesse left, Courtney scrubbed her teeth furiously. The thought of him kissing her with lips that touched Mia's moments before made her stomach churn.

When she went downstairs, two people were already at the dining table. Jesse sat at the head, with Mia on his left. Mia was dressed in a plain yellow dress, looking sweet and innocent.

Seeing Courtney, Mia greeted her brightly, "Good morning, Courtney!"

Courtney gave a nonchalant hum in response.

Mia said with a smile, "Jesse made breakfast. Come eat."

Courtney took her seat, and Jesse thoughtfully blew on her cup of coffee before setting it in front of her.

"Careful, it's hot."

Mia watched with admiration. "Oh, I'm so jealous. Jesse loves you a lot, Courtney."

Courtney gave her a faint smile. "He loves you, too."

Just as he'd done the night before. Right into that morning.

Jesse chuckled. "It's not the same. I love you because you're my wife and the love of my life."

"What about Mia?"

"Well, you said she's like a younger sister to you. So, I treat her like my sister as well," he replied.

"Is that so?" Courtney took the cup from him. "You don't have to blow on it. Just let it cool down."

Sensing something off in her tone, Jesse took her and kissed it gently. "What's wrong? Why are you upset? If you don't like the food, I can make something else."

Courtney withdrew her hand and asked, "Jesse, do you love me?"

"Of course," he said without hesitation. "Everyone knows I love you."

"Do you think it's possible for a man to love two women at once?"

Jesse frowned slightly as he answered, "True love belongs to one person alone."

Courtney looked him in the eye and said, "If the day comes when your feelings change, just tell me. I'll leave so you can move on. But please, don't lie to me. My love is precious, and I won't tolerate betrayal."

Jesse smiled. "You don't have to worry. I'll only ever love you. No one could replace you."

"What if someone did?"

"That's not possible."

Courtney added firmly, "If I find out you lied to me, I'll leave you and erase you from my life."