Page 135 of King of Pride

Ivan ignored him.

He roughly pulled the IV from his arm and tossed it aside before grabbing the clothes that had been left on the chair. He disappeared into the bathroom and emerged a few minutes later dressed in his own clothes.

Terrence stared at him in disbelief.

“Are you out of your mind? You're still injured. Look at you! Your body hasn't even healed. The doctor said you need to remain under observation for at least twenty-four hours.”

Ivan didn't even acknowledge him.

His attention shifted to Jessica.

He pointed toward her, his expression hardening.

“Don't let her come anywhere near me again.”

Jessica's eyes widened.

“Ivan—”

“I told you Rose doesn't like her,” he snapped, cutting her off. “Why is she here? I never asked her to come. Who the hell told her to come here?”

His voice rose with every word.

“From now on, I don't want her anywhere near me. Do you understand?”

Terrence stood frozen for a moment.

He had never seen Ivan treat Jessica like this.

For years, Ivan had been so consumed by his obsession with Rose that Jessica could barely get his attention, yet he had still never been this openly dismissive of her. A single message from her used to be enough to make him respond immediately.

Now, he couldn't even be bothered to look at her.

Jessica's face hardened with humiliation and anger.

“Ivan, I—”

But he had already turned away.

He stormed out of the room without another glance in her direction.

“Ivan, wait!” Terrence hurried after him. “You can't leave. You're still not medically cleared!”

Ivan didn't stop.

He continued down the corridor, ignoring Terrence's protests until he pushed through the hospital doors and walked outside.

***

Rose had barely stepped inside the house when her phone began ringing.

She pulled it from her purse and glanced at the screen.

Her brows immediately drew together. Troy rarely called her, and when he did, it was usually because her father had asked him to.

She answered at once.

“Troy? Is Dad okay?”