Page 29 of King of Pride

Seeing Maverick walk into his house with Rose in his arms was enough to make Oswald’s expression change completely.

His gaze followed Maverick as he crossed the room and carefully lowered Rose onto the couch. He made sure she was settled before straightening, while Rose remained wrapped tightly in the oversized coat he had placed around her shoulders.

The warmth of the coat had finally stopped her trembling.

Oswald’s eyes dropped to the coat before moving back to Rose. Then they returned to Maverick.

Maverick stood calmly in front of him, completely unaffected by the tension in the room.

Oswald’s expression hardened.

“Mr. Bishop,” he said, his voice controlled but wary. “What are you doing here?”

Maverick straightened to his full height.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Two of the most intimidating men in their respective worlds stood face-to-face, neither willing to look away first. Their expressions carried a similar coldness, but there was something different about Maverick. The younger man possessed a darkness in his presence that seemed almost impossible to penetrate, an aura of quiet danger that even Oswald couldn't ignore.

Finally, Maverick broke the silence.

“Mr. Monroe.”

His voice was calm, almost unnervingly so.

His gaze remained fixed on Oswald.

“I’m the man in that photograph with Rose.”

Rose immediately straightened, her entire body going rigid as she realized that Maverick had received the same photograph her father had.

Worse, he had openly admitted that he was the man in it!

Her mouth fell open as she looked between the two men standing before her. Her heart began pounding harder when she saw Oswald's expression change little by little, the confusion and coldness on his face slowly giving way to a look of sudden realization—one that seemed almost impossible for him to comprehend.

For several moments, Oswald said nothing. A deathly silence settled over the room as he stared at Maverick.

“I see.”

Rose swallowed, her heart hammering as she waited anxiously for her father's reaction.

Oswald finally looked away from Maverick.

“Let's talk in private.”

Maverick gave a slight nod and followed him toward the study.

Rose immediately rose to her feet and hurried after them, desperate to find out what they were going to discuss. But the two men disappeared into the study before she could catch up.

She returned to the living room and stared at the study, confusion written all over her face.

“What the hell is going on?” she muttered under her breath.

She waited.

Ten minutes passed.

Then another five.