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."
