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 Rosalie’s 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 won’t get angry, right?”

——

My expression sank.

Before I could answer, several of Rosalie’s 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 Snyder’s devotion truly hasn’t shifted.”

“Right. What did you choose for matching marks?”

Before any words dropped, every person’s 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. Don’t waste energy arguing against a kid.”

“He’s just twenty, simple inside, he speaks whatever comes up.”

“You’ve always been generous, don’t 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 won’t 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 can’t deal with this properly,”

“I’ll handle it my own way.”

I turned and left.

As the door shut, I faintly caught voices inside.

“Just now, Keagan’s look scared me so bad my spine went cold. When has he ever been humiliated like that?”

Someone added with doubt. “Keagan isn’t easy to face; he likely won’t let this drop.”

Rosalie’s voice sounded level and sure.

“No, I know Keagan, he’s only talking in anger, he won’t truly hurt Fritz.”

She paused, then continued, “And with me standing in front of him, he can’t 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.