Page 134 of King of Pride

Chapter 17 A Home With His Wife

The smile on her lips widened.

For the briefest moment, disappointment flickered across her face at the fact that he hadn't even recognized her.

But she quickly concealed it.

It had been days since Ivan had contacted her.

Before Rose, he had showered Jessica with expensive gifts, constant messages, and endless attention. But over the past few weeks, he had seemingly forgotten she existed.

Jessica had been furious about it.

Then Rose's message had arrived, telling her that Ivan was in the hospital and asking her to come.

Jessica had immediately seen the opportunity.

She wasn't going to let it slip away.

She knew Rose had once loved Ivan deeply, and she also knew that Rose could easily reclaim him if Jessica allowed her back into his life.

So Jessica had no intention of stepping aside.

She had waited too long to have Ivan's attention again.

“You were in an accident? Why didn’t you tell me?” Jessica said, leaning toward him.

She lowered her face, intending to kiss his cheek, but Ivan abruptly shoved her away.

Jessica stumbled backward and dropped into the chair behind her, twisting her ankle awkwardly in the process. A sharp cry escaped her as pain shot through her foot.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped, her face twisting with pain and anger. “Why did you push me?”

Ivan barely looked at her.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice cold and furious. “Where is Rose? I asked for Rose. Why are you here? I never called you.”

Jessica stared at him in disbelief.

“Rose told me you wanted me to come,” she said, still rubbing her ankle. “She said you were asking for me.”

That was enough to shatter whatever patience Ivan had left.

The anger he had been holding inside for days exploded, but beneath it was something far more frightening—the realization that Rose had never intended to come to him herself.

Even now, while he was lying injured in a hospital bed, she hadn't come.

She had sent Jessica instead.

His face tightened as anger and hurt collided inside him. Without another word, Ivan threw the covers aside and climbed out of the bed.

“Ivan!” Terrence immediately stepped forward.

Ivan stopped and looked up.

He hadn't even noticed Terrence enter the room. He was now standing near the door, his expression tense as he watched Ivan pull himself upright.

“What are you doing?” Terrence asked again.