Our Anniversary Tattoo Marked the End of My Marriage

On our seventh year anniversary, Rosalie Snyder and I chose to tattoo each other's names on our bodies.

After the tattoo was complete, I woke up dizzy.

But saw that my chest carried the phrase Top Begging Dog of Nashville in six bold letters.

Seeing my look go dark at once, tattoo artist Fritz Porter covered his mouth, chuckling.

Anyway, you just depend on women, did I tattoo it wrong?

I hurled the cup right then.

Pieces of porcelain shot toward Fritz like scattered stars.

The very next moment, Rosalie nearly rushed forward, fully blocking him behind her.

She creased her brows at me, irritation tucked beneath her words.

Fritz is young, only teasing, is it really needed to be this upset?

I fixed my eyes on Rosalies loosened neckline.

Where my name should have been marked, the three words Fritz were plainly burned there.

Fritz leaned his head out, stuck his tongue forward, and his voice was childlike.

Rosalie said my name sounded good last time.

So I teased with Rosalie, big brother wont get angry, right?

My expression sank.

Before I could answer, several of Rosalies friends came inside laughing.

President Snyder and Brother Keagan still keep such a close bond.

Of course, when she chased Brother Keagan back then, President Snyderused ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine gold roses to build a rose manor.

Seven years of marriage and still getting paired tattoos, President Snyders devotion truly hasnt shifted.

Right. What did you choose for matching marks?

Before any words dropped, every persons eyes settled on my loosened neckline.

The laugh cut off at once.

Their mouths stayed curved, but their looks had already frozen.

The entire room fell silent in a way that felt chilling.

Only Fritz let out a faint laugh.

Rosalie creased her brows, without thinking, tugging Fritz farther behind her.

Fritz, say sorry.

He lifted one corner of his lips, grudgingly throwing out, Sorry, alright?

He shot a look my way, quickly rolled his eyes, muttering low, Only joking, why take it this hard?

Old guys bring such hassle.

Rosalie tapped his shoulder softly, and when her eyes shifted toward me, they carried coaxing.

Fritz already sees his mistake. Dont waste energy arguing against a kid.

Hes just twenty, simple inside, he speaks whatever comes up.

Youve always been generous, dont corner him.

Each sentence hid a soft sharpness.

Rosalie stood there noble and classy, using a graceful posture to mask bias as justice.

I listened and could not stop a bitter laugh.

Say sorry?

I wont take it.

I slowly pulled my collar closed, fully covering those shaming characters completely.

My fingernails pressed into my palm, aching, yet not even one ten-thousandth of the ache in my chest.

I looked at Rosalie and spoke each word plainly. Since you cant deal with this properly,

Ill handle it my own way.

I turned and left.

As the door shut, I faintly caught voices inside.

Just now, Keagans look scared me so bad my spine went cold. When has he ever been humiliated like that?

Someone added with doubt. Keagan isnt easy to face; he likely wont let this drop.

Rosalies voice sounded level and sure.

No, I know Keagan, hes only talking in anger, he wont truly hurt Fritz.

She paused, then continued, And with me standing in front of him, he cant do anything.

Several people traded uneasy looks.

No one thought Rosalie, who had always gone along with me in everything, would protect Fritz like this.

Someone instantly chuckled and buttered up, Of course, now Fritz sits highest in Rosalies heart.

I stood beyond the doorway, a chilly smile slowly rising on my mouth.

No revenge?

Then I would not live up to the Porter name.

I got into the vehicle and pulled out my phone.

Tonight at twelve.

Bring Fritz to me.

And get skin repair tools and a medical crew ready.

A bit after eleven, my phone display lit up.

My sister sent a note. I had guards take Fritz. Hell reach the old house in twenty minutes.

I was just about to answer when my friend sent a video.

I opened it, and Fritz was grinning widely at the camera.

Today I drew a special piece for an old guy.

He waved the tattoo tool before the lens.

Guess what I inked on him? Nashville No.1 Bootlicker!

You didnt see, hes already thirty and still dares to show his chest. His skins so slack the needle barely stayed. I pressed hard on purpose three times, no matter what, it wont fade.

The comments flooded in wildly, Main lead energy."

Nice work.

Hahahahaha.

Fritz grew more excited as he talked, pride glowing in his eyes.

Ive met plenty like him. Living off family cash, buying purses, sipping tea, chasing women all day. Not like me, I opened a shop at twenty using my own craft.

He let out an exaggerated sigh, What a shame. No matter how an old guy struggles, hes still the same, long hated by his wife.

Next time Ill stream something even crazier, just wait and see me teach this kind of kept pretty-boy how to act.

The video stopped.

I actually laughed from anger.

Fritz Porter.

A name I gave him myself.

Five years earlier, during a charity school visit to the hills, I found him inside a leaking mud hut.

A sixteen-year-old boy curled on straw bedding, skin bruised deep purple from beatings.

Face sallow and thin, eyes packed with shame and despair, he couldnt hide.

Back then, he didnt even have a name.

He grabbed my sleeve and said, Brother, I want to learn.

I took him back to Nashville and named him Fritz, meaning proud under the wide sky.

I sent him to the finest art school and opened his tattoo shop with a ribbon cut when he finished.

Now he used the skill paid for by my money to carve these words into my skin, shame me online, and even set his sights on my woman.

But what stunned me the most was that Rosalie truly stood up for him.

Heavy steps snapped my thoughts apart.

Rows of guards in black stood straight.

Two of them hauled Fritz in and slammed him onto the floor like waste.

He fought to raise his head, eyes red.

Keagan! Other than using your familys strength to crush people, what else can you do?

His face shifted fast, a smug smile sliding onto his mouth.

If you treat me this way, Rosalie will never forgive you!

When she gets sick of you one day, do you think your family will want someone tossed aside by hers? Youll be nothing!

I looked down at him, smiling faintly.

When Rosalie chased after me back then, she knew nothing about my family.

The smile locked on his face.

I looked down at him from above, tilting his jaw up with the tip of my shoe.

True, youre twenty now, still young.

Your face skin is smooth and soft, just right to swap in for the marked patch on my chest.

His pupils tightened fast.

As for using power to press others down

I relaxed my hand, took the cleaning cloth passed over by the servant, and slowly wiped my hands.

Youre wrong about one thing.

In Nashville, I am the power.

The second the surgery light turned on, the sharp scent of cleaner made me dizzy for a brief moment.

I suddenly saw eighteen-year-old Rosalie clearly.

She always sat in the front row of the classroom, spine straight like a ruler.

Her collar had been washed until it faded, worn down into tiny loose threads.

Once, she ran a high fever and skipped lessons for three days. When I finally found her, she was sorting trash by the roadside.

I pushed five thousand yuan into her bag.

She chased after me across three streets to give it back, voice rough. Kaegan, please let me keep some pride.

After that, I only by chance brought an extra breakfast, and along the way lent her study notes.

On the night of the Winter Solstice, she carried two roasted sweet potatoes in her pocket.

In the minus-ten cold wind, she waited outside the dorm until the lights went out, and the first line she spoke when she saw me was:

Keagan, can I ask you to wait for me?

Many years later, she rose from nothing and brought her company to the market.

She held me close through the night, voice breaking. Those years I slept only three hours a day, scared I couldnt keep pace with you, scared youd notice I had to save a whole week just to buy you a coffee.

Until the day she met my family, when she saw my father in the living room, she understood that the Foster in Keagan Foster was that Foster.

Later, Rosalie told me that at that instant her head held only one thought. So the finish line I chased my whole life, couldnt even reach your starting line.

After learning my family roots, Rosalie became known for pushing herself too hard.

She fought for deals and projects without rest, burned down her health, and forced her way into the highest circles of Nashville.

Then she laid out a rose manor with 99,999 gold roses and asked me to marry her.

What did she say at that time?

She said her purpose in living was to become someone good enough for me.

As the anesthesia slowly wore off, a light ache rose from my chest.

The love Rosalie gave me was vast and shining.

Pity, brief.

Promises shine brightest only when they are spoken.

The forever we promised did not last past seven years. Young sir?

I snapped my eyes open, fingertips brushing the cold wetness at the corners of my eyes.

The ache pressing on my chest would not ease.

The butler spoke quietly, Miss Rosalie has come back.

I dropped my eyes to my chest; the skin there had already been fully changed.

Fresh flesh, faintly pink, smooth and even, no mark left.

Rosalie walked in holding bags, warmth familiar on her face.

She set the jewelry-brand bags aside and reached out to touch my face.

Keagan, Fritz went too far today.

I bought you a new watch, dont be angry with him, hm?

The medical staff had already gone from the old house; only a handful of guards stayed behind.

Rosalie noticed nothing strange. She smiled and opened the jewelry case, diamonds shining brightly.

I promise I wont let Fritz stir up trouble again.

When she spoke Fritzs name, warmth slipped into her voice without hiding; even she failed to notice it.

I stood still, watching her quietly.

Now she wore a necklace worth tens of millions.

The collar, once worn thin by washing, now held smooth mother-of-pearl buttons.

Even the gardenia scent on her body was exactly the same as the smell in Fritzs hair.

I looked at her graceful appearance and suddenly thought of that Winter Solstice long ago.

She stood in the snow, the cuffs of her down jacket leaking cotton, yet hugged roasted sweet potatoes to her chest, afraid they would turn cold.

Keagan?

She noticed my silence and moved closer again.

That gardenia smell grew even heavier.

Fritz suddenly dashed out, staggering as he fell into Rosalies arms.

Sister Rosalie!

He had people hold me down and cut skin straight off my body

Didnt you say you would keep me safe forever? It hurts so badly now

Rosalies breathing clearly broke.

She looked at the bandage wrapped around his chest, then at the smooth skin on mine, and her eyes chilled.

Her voice dropped low.

Keagan, how did you turn into this?

So heartless?

Fritz cried softly against her shoulder, but the glance he sent my way carried nothing but challenge and pride.

Hes still so young, with such a large mark on his body, how will he live later?

Rosalies voice grew cold. Do you need to ruin him before you feel content?

I watched the way she blocked Fritz behind her.

All at once, I remembered Rosalie at eighteen, careful, restrained, not even daring to wrap her arms tightly around me when she held me.

Back then, she made her first promise, saying she would stay by my side for life.

I gently brushed the fresh skin on my chest, holding back the ache rising in my heart.

Have you considered what Im meant to do with those words carved on me?

He tattooed me with those words. I took a piece of his skin. Even.

Rosalie parted her lips, yet nothing came out.

Seeing her fall silent, Fritz suddenly screamed wildly. Sister Rosalie! Youre already carrying my baby!

You cant let him treat me this way! Take me away! Please, take me away!!

It felt like lightning struck me, leaving me frozen in place as I watched the burst of happiness in Rosalies eyes.

She carefully held Fritzs hand, gentle as if holding something precious.

Joy spilled from her brows and eyes.

Dont worry, were leaving right now.

Rosalie rushed out with him pulled along, her steps never slowed even for a moment as she passed me.

She only tossed back one line. Keagan, you need to calm yourself and learn how to be my husband properly.

After that, Rosalie did not come home for three months.

She took Fritz to Switzerland to see the snow.

He casually mentioned liking the Alpine snow views, she immediately purchased a hillside vacation home, and the ownership papers carried only his name.

After that, they traveled to Venice.

Fritz shared a photo online of Rosalies specially ordered watch, an eighteenth-century sapphire face glowing brightly on his wrist.

[There is always someone who quietly grants every wish you have. So this is how it feels to be treasured.]

Rosalies preference had always been obvious and direct, just like when she chased after me.

Never understanding restraint.

I stared at that image for a very, very long time until a sharp ache spread through my eyes.

Dropping my eyes, I rotated the band on my ring finger, the small diamond ring she purchased using her very first months internship pay.

Uncle Teddy.

When the butler poured tea, I asked quietly, The Snyder familys long-term investment fund has always depended on Grandfathers backing?

The butler quickly unlocked the safe and removed the papers.

Young Sir.

The elder prepared all of this for you before he died.

I studied the terms, thought about the Alpine snow edge, the reflective canals of Venice, and that vintage watch.

Then I called Rosalie.

After three ringing tones, I switched to a video call, and the face on the screen was Fritzs.

Brother Keagan?

Rosalie is showering.

A faint mark showed along his collarbone, and his face carried the content look of a man fully indulged.

He no longer resembled the shy, thin boy he once was.

Honestly, theres something Im unsure whether I should mention, but I think youll learn it sooner or later.

Do you know?

Rosalie said the thing she dislikes most about you is your always-calm manner.

Shes obsessed with me in bed. She says she loves how young and untamed I am, that I make her feel so good she almost loses control.

Fritz paused, then continued, pride clear in his voice.

Oh, and back when you arranged for someone to take a piece of skin from me, leaving that large mark

Rosalie felt bad for me, so she willingly had part of her own skin taken to be grafted onto mine

The video cut off without warning.

I gripped the window ledge to keep myself upright.

After waiting for my pulse to settle, I called another number.

That same night, the charity auction Rosalie organized for Fritz rose to the top of the trending searches.

The screen overflowed with posts saying Mr. Porter makes his first public appearance as the male host.

Guests stopped bringing up his past as a tattoo worker, instead politely addressing him as Mr. Porter.

Some overly flattering attendees even lifted their champagne glasses, praising, The two of you really make a perfect pair.

Beneath the bright lights of the banquet hall, Rosalie led Fritz toward the auction platform.

Their fingers were tightly linked under the cameras like newlyweds standing on a grand wedding stage, and applause burst out the moment they appeared.

Taking this opportunity tonight

Rosalie gently adjusted Fritzs tie, I want to formally announce

The carved doors of the hall suddenly flew open with a loud crash, and more than a dozen lawyers in suits strode in quickly.

The leading middle-aged man set a stock freeze notice in front of Rosalie.

Miss Snyder.

According to the terms arranged by Mr. Foster before his death

Rosalie was about to call for security when she realized every staff member had disappeared.

The man pushed the document closer. All Snyder-held shares under your name have been fully frozen.