“Keagan?”
She noticed my silence and moved closer again.
That gardenia smell grew even heavier.
Fritz suddenly dashed out, staggering as he fell into Rosalie’s arms.
“Sister Rosalie!”
“He had people hold me down and cut skin straight off my body…”
“Didn’t you say you would keep me safe forever? It hurts so badly now…”
Rosalie’s 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.
“He’s still so young, with such a large mark on his body, how will he live later?”
Rosalie’s 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 I’m 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! You’re already carrying my baby!”
“You can’t 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 Rosalie’s eyes.
She carefully held Fritz’s hand, gentle as if holding something precious.
Joy spilled from her brows and eyes.
“Don’t worry, we’re 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 Rosalie’s 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.]
Rosalie’s 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 month’s internship pay.
“Uncle Teddy.”
When the butler poured tea, I asked quietly, “The Snyder family’s long-term investment fund has always depended on Grandfather’s backing?”
The butler quickly unlocked the safe and removed the papers.
“Young Sir.”
