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619words2026-01-27 09:13

On our seventh anniversary, Alexander Fitzgerald and I decided to get each other's names tattooed.
I woke up in a daze after the tattoo session, only to find two bold words tatooed across my chest, "Gold Digger."
Seeing my face darken, the tattoo artist, Chloe Summers, covered her mouth with a giggle.

"Since you only rely on men anyway, I figured it was accurate."
I smashed my glass to the floor.
Shards from the cup flew towards Chloe like bullets.
The next instant Alexander burst in and threw himself in front of her, shielding her with his body.
He frowned at me, scolded me impatiently.
"Chloe's young, it was just a joke. Did you really have to react like that?"

My eyes dropped to his open collar.
Where my name should have been, "Chloe Summers" was now permanently branded.
Chloe peeked out from behind him, tongue flicking playfully, voice dripping honey.
"Alex said my name sounded beautiful last time we talked."

"It was just a little joke between us, sis. You’re not actually mad, right?"
My expression turned stormy.
Before I could speak, Alexander's friends walked in , already laughing.
"Mr. and Mrs.Fitzgerald still going strong, huh?"
"Of course! When he was pursuing her, Alex practically carpeted an entire garden with 99,999 gold-dipped roses."
"After seven years of marriage, you couple still wanna get a sweat matching ink? His devotion never fades."
“So, what did you guys get tattooed?”
Before the words faded, their eyes landed on my open collar.
The laughter died instantly.
Eyes widened in stunned silence.
The room plunged into terrifying silence.
Only Chloe let out a soft, satisfied chuckle.
Alexander’s frown deepened. He tugged Chloe a step farther behind him.
"Chloe, apologize."
Chloe pouted, tossing out a half-hearted, "Sorry, okay?"
She glanced at me, thenshot me a sideways glance, "It was just a joke, why so serious?"
"Old hags are so dramatic."
Alexander patted her shoulder lightly. When he looked back at me his tone softened into something coaxing.
"Chloe knows she was wrong. Forgive her, now!"
"She's only twenty, innocent. She just blurts out whatever’s in her head"
"You’ve always been the gracious one. Don't make this hard for her."
Every word was a velvet-wrapped blade.
Alexander stood there, radiating privilege, making his favoritism sound like impartial justice.
I actually laughed, short and bitter.
"Apologize? I don't accept it."
Slowly, I buttoned my collar, covering those two humiliating words.
My nails bit into my palms until they stung, but the pain was nothing next to the hollow ache in my chest.
I looked Alexander dead in the eye, pronouncing every word clearly.
"Since you can’t handle this properly, I’ll deal with it myself."
I turned and walked out.
As the door clicked shut, faint voices drifted from inside.
"The look in Victoria's eyes just now... it gave me chills. She grew up spoiled by the Sterlings—she’s never had to swallow an insult like that."
Someone hesitated, then added, "Victoria isn’t the type to just let it go."
Alexander's voice cut in, calm and utterly certain.
“She won’t do anything. I know her. She’s just venting. Once she cools off, she’ll be fine.”
He paused, then added, "Besides, with me protecting Chloe, she can't do anything."
No one expected Alexander, who'd always bent over backwards for me, to defend Chloe so fiercely.
Someone immediately fawned, "Of course! Miss Chloe is Alex's darling now."
Standing outside the door, a cold smile curved my lips.
No revenge?
Then I don’t deserve to carry the Sterling name.
I got into my car and pulled out my phone.
"Bring Chloe Summers to me at midnight tonight."
“And have the skin graft equipment and the full medical team standing by.”