He cares because he's losing the control he's had over you, where you were afraid to make a move in defense of yourself for fear of upsetting his apple cart and having him think badly of you. When you ceased to tiptoe around him and then went so far as to stand up for yourself, he was left standing there with no one to justifiably blame but himself. Meanwhile, you walked off with a set of balls bigger than he's ever had. Men love women with power ;\) . But they'll kick and scream and act the fool before they admit it. This is him beginning to kick and scream. Get out your stiletto's.