After Jungkook finally left the room, Rose sat silently on the bed, her fists clenched. The taste of the soup still lingered on her tongue, burning worse than poison.

When he returned late at night, loosening his tie and smirking as if nothing had happened, Rose’s eyes snapped toward him.

“You think you won today?” she asked coldly.

Jungkook paused mid-step, raising a brow. “I don’t think. I know. You ate, didn’t you?”

Her chest heaved with anger. “Not because I wanted to. Because you forced me. You humiliated me, Jungkook. Even animals deserve more respect.”

His smirk faded for a moment, replaced by something darker. He stepped closer, voice low.

“Animals don’t starve themselves to death just to prove a point, Rose. Don’t compare yourself to them.”

She stood, glaring fiercely despite her weakness. “I would rather starve than bend to you. Remember that.”

Jungkook’s jaw tightened, but he caught himself before snapping. He leaned down, brushing dangerously close to her ear.

“Keep testing me, wifey… one day, you’ll learn that even your rebellion excites me.”

Rose’s breath hitched, but she didn’t step back. “And one day, you’ll learn that I will never give you the satisfaction of winning over me.”

The room was thick with tension, neither willing to back down—his obsession clashing with her unyielding defiance.

Jungkook straightened, his smirk returning slowly as if her defiance only fueled him more. He loosened his shirt collar and leaned back against the wall, watching her every move like a predator with its prey.

“You know, Rose…” he drawled, his tone mocking yet oddly fascinated, “every woman I’ve ever met either feared me or obeyed me. But you? You resist, fight, even faint, and still you spit fire at me. You’re… different.”

Rose’s fists clenched at her sides. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not ‘different.’ I just don’t tolerate monsters.”

His eyes darkened at her words. He pushed himself off the wall and strode toward her, step by step, until her back hit the cold wall. She lifted her chin boldly, refusing to cower.

“Monster?” he repeated in a low, dangerous whisper. His hand lifted, brushing strands of hair from her face, but she slapped his hand away.

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed.

Jungkook chuckled darkly, tilting his head. “You really think you can draw a line with me? After I’ve already crossed every one of yours?”

Her eyes blazed, but she didn’t move away. “Yes. Because every time you force me, Jungkook, you’re only making me stronger. One day, you’ll regret pushing me this far.”

For the first time, his smirk faltered, and a strange silence filled the room. His gaze lingered on her determined eyes, and though anger was clear in him, there was something else flickering there—something he himself couldn’t name.

Instead of answering, he suddenly stepped back, laughing softly but coldly.

“Careful, Rose. If you keep provoking me like this, I might just fall for your fire. And when I do… you’ll burn with me.”

He turned, leaving her stunned against the wall, her heart racing—not out of fear anymore, but out of a strange mix of rage and confusion.

The next morning, Jungkook woke up early, as usual, and headed to his private gym. His shirt clung to his frame as he began warming up, focus sharp. But then he caught sight of Rose walking in behind him, her curious eyes scanning every corner of the gym as if she was studying it.

He raised a brow, smirking. “Wifey… you can’t exercise. You’re still weak.”

Rose folded her arms, tilting her head. “Relax. I’m not here to exercise.”

He chuckled, leaning casually against the treadmill. “Then maybe… you came here because you wanted to see me?” His tone was dripping with mockery.

She sighed in annoyance. “You and your useless dreams.”

That only widened his smirk. Slowly, he stepped onto the treadmill, starting it up with steady strides, his eyes locked on her like he was teasing her just by existing. “Careful, Rose. If you watch me like that for too long, you might end up falling for me.”

She rolled her eyes and turned toward the racks of dumbbells, pretending to ignore him, though her sharp gaze didn’t miss a single move he made.

Rose’s eyes narrowed at his cocky words. “You’re not that impressive, Jungkook. Anyone can run on a treadmill.”

He chuckled low, stepping down and stretching his arms. “Then challenge me, wifey. Let’s see what you’ve got in mind.”

Her lips curved into a sly smirk. “Fine. One hundred push-ups. If you’re really as strong as you act, prove it.”

The maids who were silently cleaning the gym looked at each other in shock—no one ever dared challenge their boss. Easton, who had just walked in, froze at the door, already imagining the storm that might follow.

But Jungkook only grinned wider. He dropped down to the mat, positioned his arms, and began his push-ups. His pace was steady, his muscles flexing with every move. Rose crossed her arms, pretending not to care, but her eyes betrayed her focus.

Within minutes, Jungkook completed the last push-up and stood, barely breaking a sweat. He leaned close to her, smirk dancing on his lips.

“Do you know, wifey, how I did this so easily?” His voice dropped into a husky whisper.

She raised a brow, waiting.

“I just imagined,” he said with a dark chuckle, “that you were lying under me.”

Rose froze, her cheeks heating against her will. But she quickly masked it with a glare. “Disgusting. You’re impossible.”

Jungkook’s laugh echoed in the room, deep and satisfied, as if her reaction was the real victory.

Jungkook wiped his hands with a towel, still grinning like he owned the world. “Now, wifey…” he leaned closer, voice dropping dangerously, “I’ll only accept your next challenge… if you’re lying under me.”

Rose froze, her eyes widening for a second before she quickly masked it with a sharp glare. “Never,” she hissed, her voice steady and bold.

She turned on her heel without another word, leaving the gym. Her shoes clicked against the marble floor, echoing louder than his chuckle behind her.

Jungkook watched her retreating figure, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Tch… this girl,” he muttered, running a hand through his damp hair. “She resists me today, but how long will she keep it up?”

Easton, who had seen the whole scene, lowered his head to hide his shock. For the first time, someone had thrown Jungkook’s boldness right back at him—without fear.