Page 76 of King of Pride

“What the fuck is wrong with Rose? That's what you should be asking me.”

He grabbed his glass and took another drink.

“She’s been acting like this for weeks. Something changed. I don't understand what the hell is wrong with her.”

His jaw tightened.

“She used to get jealous whenever I talked to Jessica. She'd lose her mind if I even spent time with her. But today? Nothing. Jessica was standing right beside me, and Rose didn't even react.”

He shook his head, clearly unable to understand it.

“She acted like she didn't care at all.”

Terrence stared at him for a moment before taking another drink.

“Maybe that's because she doesn't care about you anymore.”

Ivan went still.

Terrence shrugged.

“What else could it be?”

Ivan gripped the whiskey glass so tightly that his knuckles turned pale. He shook his head, refusing to accept what Terrence was saying.

“You're overreacting. It's not like that. She can't just stop caring about me after one week. How could she?” he argued, his voice filled with disbelief. “She’s liked me for an entire year. We were together all this time. She was planning to marry me. How can you seriously think she suddenly doesn't care anymore?”

Terrence stared at him for a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh.

“What do you want from her, Ivan? Do you want her to keep crying over you?” He shook his head. “She has moved on. She doesn't want anything to do with you anymore, and you should start doing the same.”

Ivan's jaw tightened.

He slammed his glass onto the counter and turned toward Terrence with a furious glare.

“She loves me.”

His voice was filled with absolute conviction.

“She got together with me the moment I told her I wanted her. I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes without even thinking twice. She did everything for me because she loved me. She followed every fucking word I said as if it were the only thing that mattered.”

He scoffed bitterly.

“And now she's pretending to have a husband? A fake marriage? She's doing all this because she wants me to chase after her. She wants me to apologize and give in first.”

His anger continued to build as he spoke.

“Fine. If that's what she wants so badly, I'll apologize. I'll give her what she wants. One last fucking time.”

Terrence stared at him in disbelief.

“You're delusional.”

He shook his head.

“Seriously, Ivan. Can you hear yourself? From what angle does it look like Rose is waiting for you to apologize? Has she even asked you for an apology?”

Ivan opened his mouth, but Terrence continued before he could answer.