Page 56 of King of Pride

Without breaking eye contact, she tossed the empty glass onto the floor.

Crash!

The glass shattered, fragments scattering across the polished floor.

Ivan instinctively stepped back.

His three friends jolted to their feet, startled by the sudden confrontation. Terrence was the first to find his voice.

“Zoe?” he demanded, staring at her in confusion. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Ivan’s anger only intensified. His jaw clenched as he glared at her, whiskey dripping from his hair onto his expensive shirt.

“Have you lost your damn mind?”

Zoe scoffed, her breath coming out sharply as she stared at Ivan, fury burning in her eyes.

“How dare you slap Rose?”

Her voice cracked through the private room.

“Did you even think about what you were doing before you lost your fucking mind?” she demanded, her anger rising with every word. She stood directly in front of him, her face twisted with disgust as she glared at him.

For a moment, Ivan said nothing. His eyes hardened, his jaw tightening as his own anger began to rise.

“You’re such a fucking asshole,” Zoe snapped. “You don’t deserve any happiness in your life. I hope you never get married. A two-timing rat like you has no business marrying someone else.”

She took a furious breath, refusing to let him interrupt.

“I hope you end up alone, because you don’t deserve to have anyone by your side. You’re a disgusting human being. I thought you were just an asshole, but it turns out you’re a fucking loser too.”

Her voice shook with rage.

“How could you slap Rose?”

Ivan’s expression darkened.

“Watch yourself, Zoe.”

“Or what?”

His jaw clenched.

“This is between me and Rose. None of you have anything to do with what happens between us.”

Zoe let out a sharp, humorless laugh.

“There is nothing between you and her anymore. The moment you put your hands on her, you crossed a line. You don’t get to slap her and then expect everyone else to sit back and pretend it’s none of their business.”

She stepped closer, her eyes blazing.

“Don’t forget that you’re not the only person in her life. Rose has people who love her. She has people who will stand up for her. And that slap you put across her face is going to have consequences, whether you like it or not.”

Ivan stared at her, his expression hard.

“You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

Zoe's eyes widened in disbelief.