Page 21 of King of Pride

Her father was standing directly in front of her.

“Aaaahhhh!”

Rose cried out and instinctively took a step backward, her entire body jolting as she came to an abrupt stop.

Oswald Monroe stared down at her.

He was a man who could intimidate Rose with nothing more than a look. Her father was one of the people she feared the most, and right now, the intensity of his gaze felt as though it were seeing straight through her.

Rose swallowed.

Then, forcing a smile onto her face, she said lightly, “What a coincidence, Dad. I was just looking for you. Were you looking for me too?”

Oswald let out a dismissive huff.

Rose's innocent expression did little to fool him.

His face remained stern as he stared at her, his hands folded behind his back. There was something intimidating about him despite his age. The years were visible in the deep lines etched across his forehead and around his eyes, the silver threaded through his dark hair, and the slight sagging of his skin along his jaw. Yet he remained striking, his broad shoulders still straight, his posture rigid, and his sharp features retaining the commanding presence of a much younger man.

It was enough to make Rose's knees feel weak.

“Where were you last night?” he demanded. “Haven’t I told you that you need to come home on time? You disappeared for the entire night. No calls. No messages. Do you even think about the fact that you have a father sitting at home, worrying about you?”

Rose met his stern gaze with an easy smile and a casual shrug.

“I was at a party with some friends and fell asleep. It’s not a big deal. I didn’t even realize when I nodded off.”

“You should think twice before disappearing for an entire night and leaving your father here to worry.”

Oswald’s voice remained stern, his disapproval clear in every word.

Rose only smiled again before turning toward the staircase.

“Alright, Dad. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m going up to my room now. I think that’s enough interaction for one day.”

She headed for the stairs, hoping to escape before he could launch into another lecture.

She had barely set one foot on the first step when Oswald’s voice cracked through the hall.

“Disappearing for an entire night and then strolling home like this? Rose Monroe, have you lost all shame?”

Oswald’s words brought Rose to an abrupt halt.

Her entire body stiffened. Slowly, she turned around to face her father, only to find him watching her with a hard, angry expression.

“Come back here, Rose.”

Rose reluctantly descended the step and walked back toward him, forcing a small smile onto her face as she tried to make light of the situation.

“It was just that I fell asleep, but—”

Before she could finish, Oswald pulled out his phone and turned the screen toward her.

Rose fell silent.

Her own photograph stared back at her.

But she wasn’t alone.