Page 58 of King of Pride

Ivan scoffed, quickly masking his shock with irritation.

“How long are you going to keep lying for her?” he demanded. “Aren’t you tired of making up one ridiculous story after another? Listen to yourself. Anyone can see through you, Zoe.”

Zoe stared at him as though he had just said something unbelievably stupid.

Then she scoffed.

“She’s already married.”

Ivan’s expression tightened.

“She’s married to a man who is a thousand times better than you, and while you sit here convinced she’ll come crawling back, she’ll be moving on with her life. You’re going to spend the rest of your life regretting the moment you lost her.”

Her voice hardened.

“Rose is a fucking angel, and I’m glad she’s finally free from a monster like you.”

Zoe pulled out her phone, opened a photograph, and thrust the screen toward him.

“Look. Whose name is this?”

Ivan stared at the image.

It was a photograph of a marriage certificate. Rose’s name was clearly visible in it, while the husband’s name, date, and other identifying details had been deliberately blurred.

“This is her marriage certificate,” Zoe said firmly. “You can see her name right there.”

Ivan’s expression hardened.

“I could print a fake certificate like that in five minutes.”

Zoe stared at him as if he were an idiot.

“Something fake like this?”

She reached into her bag and pulled out the engagement ring Ivan had given Rose.

She tossed it directly at his chest.

The ring bounced off him and landed in his lap.

“She doesn’t need this anymore.”

Zoe’s eyes narrowed.

“Keep your fake promises, your fake ring, and your fake relationship. Just stay away from her. You don’t deserve her.”

She turned on her heel and stormed out without waiting for his response.

Ivan remained frozen for a moment, his anger slowly boiling over.

Then he let out a furious laugh.

“Rose is never going to change. There’s always some fucking drama with her. She just wants me to give in first. This is another one of her stupid tricks to piss me off.”

Terrence stared at him.

“Are you really sure it’s just drama?”