Page 23 of King of Pride

“I’ve maintained my dignity and my morals for more than twenty years. It’s not like I murdered someone, Dad.”

Oswald’s face darkened.

“Enough!”

His voice thundered through the hall, making Rose’s shoulders jerk.

“You make mistakes, you do something wrong, and then you don’t even admit that you’ve done anything wrong. Instead, you stand here arguing with me as though you’ve done nothing!”

He pointed toward the front door.

“Go outside and stand there until I tell you to come back. You are not going to your bedroom. You’re going outside.”

Rose stared at him in disbelief.

At the back of the room, the family butler, Troy, had been quietly watching the confrontation. In his late fifties, he had a kind, weathered face, warm brown eyes, and a gentle voice that had always made everyone feel at ease. His silver hair was neatly combed, and despite the sharp black outfit he wore, there was something comforting about his presence.

The moment Oswald ordered Rose outside, Troy stepped forward.

“Sir…” Troy hesitated before continuing, “it’s snowing outside. I don’t think Ms. Rose should be sent out right now.”

Oswald immediately turned toward him, his expression becoming even more thunderous.

“Stop making excuses for her!”

Troy fell silent.

Oswald turned his attention back to Rose.

“She has grown so spoiled and careless that she doesn’t respect anyone anymore. She doesn’t even respect herself.”

He pointed toward the door again.

“Go outside. Now. Stand there until I tell you to come back.”

Rose’s eyes flashed with anger.

For a moment, she simply stared at him. Then she let out a scoff with a frown.

“Fine, I’ll do it! It’s not like you’ve never punished me before.”

She spun around and stormed toward the door.

The moment she stepped outside, the cold air struck her face. She slammed the door behind her and marched away, her footsteps landing hard against the ground as she deliberately stomped forward, her anger burning hotter than the cold surrounding her.

Rose stepped outside the house and onto the pathway that ran through the middle of the garden, with the driveway leading up to the mansion on either side. Snow was falling steadily, and a thin layer had already begun to settle over the grass, turning the lawn white. Still wearing the clothes from the previous night, Rose shivered as the sudden drop in temperature bit sharply into her exposed skin.

But Rose refused to let it show.

She folded her arms tightly across her chest and stood there with a stubborn expression, staring straight ahead at the front door as though she could somehow intimidate her father into changing his mind.

For a while, she managed to ignore the cold.

It wasn't until darkness gradually settled over the house that the chill finally began to seep through her clothes. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, rubbing her arms occasionally as she tried to keep warm.

Then the main doors opened behind her.

The sound broke through the quiet of the evening, but Rose didn't bother turning around. She assumed one of the household staff had come outside.