Page 22 of King of Pride

Maverick was in the picture with her, his lips pressed against hers. There was no mistaking the intimacy of the moment. Someone had clearly captured the photograph the previous night.

Rose’s eyes widened. Her mouth fell open as she stared at the screen, unable to process what she was seeing.

For several seconds, she could only stand there.

Then she slowly lifted her gaze to her father.

Oswald was staring at her, his expression stern and furious.

“So this is where you were last night?” he demanded. “And this is your friend? This is what you were doing with your friends?”

Rose swallowed hard.

“You said you fell asleep.” His voice grew colder. “You lied to your father and then sneaked into this house like a thief. Is this what I taught you?”

Rose was still struggling to process the fact that someone had photographed her and Maverick. Heat rushed into her face as embarrassment burned through her. She glanced at the phone again before forcing out an awkward laugh.

“It was just a one-night thing. An accidental slip. I was drunk, and it just happened. It’s not a big deal, so don’t worry about it. It’s over now. Everything is over.”

She gave him another nervous smile, hoping he would let the matter go.

Instead, Oswald’s expression hardened.

“Is that what I taught you when you were a young girl?”

Rose’s shoulders flinched at the sharpness in his voice.

Oswald slipped his phone back into his pocket and clasped his hands behind his back, his stern gaze never leaving her.

“I told you not to get involved in relationships like this. You’re a young woman. You shouldn’t be jumping from one man to another. How could you do this?”

Rose lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling like a child being scolded.

“You’re supposed to marry Ivan in just a few months, and you slept with someone else last night?” His jaw tightened, his disappointment evident in his expression.

“It was just one mistake,” Rose muttered, barely audible. “It’s not going to happen again.”

“That’s what makes it worse!” Oswald snapped.

His voice echoed through the hall.

“You slept with another man without thinking about the consequences or how this could affect your future. How could you do something so reckless? Haven’t I told you time and time again that you’re not supposed to sleep with anyone before marriage? It’s not good for you!”

Rose remained silent, letting his anger wash over her. She knew that trying to argue with him now would only make things worse.

“How are you supposed to go to heaven if you don’t preserve your dignity and your virtue?” he demanded, his voice rising again.

Rose lowered her voice, trying to keep herself calm as she attempted to make him understand. “Dad, it was a one-time mistake. I didn’t even mean for it to happen. I’m sorry, okay? It’s over now. Can I just go to my room?”

Oswald’s expression hardened.

The anger in his eyes intensified as he stepped toward her. “We are in the perfume business, Rose. You are going to take over this company one day. Our cleanliness, our scent, our reputation—everything is connected to what we create. What happens if people find out that you went out and slept with some random man?”

Rose’s brows drew together.

“Do you even understand how much that could affect our business?” he continued. “How are you supposed to become a highly respected perfumer if people stop respecting you? You do things like this, and you contaminate your entire being, your morals, and the reputation we have spent decades building.”

Rose stared at him, her frustration finally breaking through her embarrassment.