Page 33 of King of Pride

He stood before her with one hand still resting casually in his pocket, his dark gaze fixed on her face. His expression was completely calm, almost unnervingly so, as though he had been waiting for her to put the pieces together.

A chill ran down Rose's spine.

She stared at him, her heart pounding harder with every second.

“Y-You did it?” she whispered, her voice filled with unmistakable fear.

Chapter 5 We’re Not Getting Back Together

Maverick stepped closer to her, the intensity in his gaze enough to make her tremble. He continued closing the distance between them until he was standing directly in front of her. He caught her wrist, then reached down and tugged at her waist.

Bending slightly, he pressed a brief kiss against her cheek before leaning closer and murmuring against her ear, “Your future husband couldn’t let you sleep with a random man, could he?”

Rose grew even more frightened. Her body trembled as she finally realized just how dangerous this man could be and how easily he could do something without giving it a second thought.

‘He really is as cunning as everyone says he is.’

All the rumors she had heard about Maverick suddenly came rushing back. After his mother died, she had left everything to him, but his father had remarried almost immediately to a woman whose family had supposedly tried to take control of his inheritance. Everyone knew that Maverick had fought his own family to reclaim what belonged to him. He was so ruthless and cruel that people had even started calling him a living demon.

“Demon,” she whispered, the last words slipping from her lips aloud before she could stop herself.

Maverick was already close enough that his mouth was near her neck from behind. His voice came quietly, almost casually. “You’re thinking about me.”

Rose froze. Whatever confidence had been on her face moments earlier disappeared instantly. She tried to run and push him away, but he caught her around the waist and pulled her back against his chest. With his other hand, he caught her face and tilted it upward until she had no choice but to look at him.

“After sleeping with me, you’re trying to run off?” he asked, his voice calm enough to be even more intimidating.

Rose's heart nearly stopped. She immediately pulled away from him, her body reacting before her mind could catch up.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Bishop,” she said, her voice shaking. “It really was a mistake last night. I didn't know it was you. I really thought—”

She stopped when she saw his expression darken.

The look in his eyes became so terrifying that she immediately changed course.

“Let’s get a divorce,” she blurted out. “I won’t bother you again. I promise. Last night was just a mistake. You’re too good for someone like me, anyway. You wouldn’t want to settle for me, right? Let’s just end this and go back to our lives, the way they were before last night.”

Maverick looked down at her, one perfectly arched eyebrow rising.

“Were my skills so bad last night that my wife wants a divorce right after the marriage?”

The memory of the previous night flashed through Rose's mind, making her tremble all over. Heat rushed into her face, but she quickly pushed the embarrassment aside.

“Trust me, it’s not like that. It really was a mistake.” She hurried to explain herself. “You’re too important and famous. You’re incredible. You shouldn’t be wasting your life with someone as insignificant as me. Why would you throw your life away? You should marry a supermodel. Or an actress. Someone who actually belongs in your world. Someone much better than me.”

She gestured helplessly, desperately trying to convince him.

“I’m just a small fish in a big ocean. You just haven’t met enough fish yet. That’s why I think you rushed into this. When you rush into something, you always realize later that it was a bad decision, right?”

She swallowed and forced a nervous smile.

“It doesn’t have to end this way. We’re already at the courthouse, so let’s just get it done. It’ll be over before you know it. It’s just a signature on a few documents. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

She took another cautious step backward.

“So let’s go get a divorce immediately.”

Maverick didn’t answer. Instead, he continued walking toward her as he listened to her rambling. Rose kept creating distance between them, taking cautious steps backward, but he simply closed the gap with every step until he was directly in front of her. Then he bent down, wrapped an arm around her waist, and threw her over his shoulder before carrying her toward the car.