The Choice to Forget

"I've decided to join your pharmaceutical research institute and continue with my medical research, Mr. Clark."

Melvin Clark chuckles. "Your husband loves you so deeply. Will he agree to let you go abroad for medical research?"

"This is my decision to make. It has nothing to do with him."

"Alright, then. When will you arrive?"

"In a week."

"Okay. I'll be waiting."

"There's one more thing. Do you need a tester for the memory-erasing potion you developed?"

Melvin's voice turns grim. "Are you saying…"

"Send me a bottle. I'll test it."

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