The Tattoo That Kept Killing Him

Synopsis

Everyone in Havenshore knows Marcus Thornton has my name inked right over his heart. The Thornton family has this old rule: the heir must tattoo the name of the person he truly loves on his left chest, and if the tattoo stays intact for three years, the marriage is approved. But the "Charlotte Ashford" on Marcus's chest never survives a full year. It rots open, every single time, burning him with terrifying fevers. The first year, the wound festered for a month and nearly killed him. The second year, infection after infection left a jagged scar across his chest. The third year, he dropped with sudden myocarditis and spent seven days in the ICU. Everyone was moved by his devotion. People cursed my name, wondering what I ever did to deserve that kind of love. Tonight, I finally learned the truth. Through a slightly open door, I saw the tattoo. Perfect. Smooth. Not a single mark. I almost cried from relief. But then he pulled out a small tube of ointment and began rubbing it around the edges of the tattoo, slow and careful. Within seconds, the skin turned red, then blistered, then began to rot. He kept smearing the stuff on as he spoke to the doctor, his tone disturbingly casual. "Make it break down a few more times. The worse it looks, the longer I can stay close to Evelyn."