Page 75 of King of Pride

Whatever patience he had been trying to maintain disappeared.

His voice shifted from coaxing her into listening to openly frustrated and angry.

“You know what? I’m getting fucking tired of this. Every time you try to make me jealous, you only make things worse between us. I won't take you back if you keep pissing me off. Don't you understand that I'm already angry, Rose?”

Rose's frustration rose with his.

She looked at him steadily.

“I've already told you. You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. How many times do I have to say it before you finally get it through your head? Stop acting like we're still together.”

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked away.

Her car was already waiting near the entrance. She opened the door, climbed inside, and shut it behind her.

“Rose!” Ivan shouted after her. “Come back! Talk to me! Are you really going to keep acting like this?”

Rose didn't even look back.

The car pulled away from the curb and disappeared down the road.

Ivan stood there, his fury building with every passing second. He clenched his fist and slammed it against the hood of his car.

“Fuck!”

Jessica hurried toward him.

“Ivan—”

He didn't even let her finish.

He turned away from her and strode toward his car.

Jessica rushed after him, trying to catch up before he got inside, but Ivan was already behind the wheel. The engine roared to life.

“Ivan!” she shouted as he pulled away.

He didn't stop.

Jessica remained standing beside the road, staring after him as his car disappeared from sight. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, frustration and anger burning across her face.

Ivan drove several blocks before reaching for the car's built-in screen and calling Terrence.

The call connected after a few rings.

“Meet me at the bar. Right now. I'm fucking pissed.”

He ended the call before Terrence could respond.

A short while later, Ivan pulled up outside one of the bars he and Terrence frequented. He walked inside, took a seat at the counter, and immediately ordered whiskey.

He was already three glasses in when Terrence finally arrived.

Terrence slid onto the stool beside him and gave him a long look, one eyebrow lifting.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you drinking like that?”

Ivan turned toward him, irritation flashing across his face.