Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 122

"Phoebe might not be of our blood, but she has poured her heart into this family over the past few years."

Alistair lifted the teapot, the amber liquid cascading into the porcelain cup and swirling into a delicate crest.

He pushed the teacup toward Phoenix, his tone heavy with paternal weight. "A family thrives on harmony. All those old grievances and petty disputes from the past... just treat them like chalk on a blackboard. Wipe them clean."

Phoenix lowered her gaze to the tea leaves drifting at the bottom of her cup. A faint, almost imperceptible smirk touched her lips. "Are you saying you've officially recognized Phoebe as a true member of the Prescott family?"

She lifted her eyes, a flash of mockery dancing in their depths. "I'm actually quite curious. What kind of trick did she pull to make you change your tune so drastically?"

"After all, you're the one who cares most about a pure bloodline. You went to great lengths to bring me back, even knowing I was just an orphaned country girl."

Alistair closed his eyes and let out a deep, weary sigh, looking as if he had aged several years in a matter of seconds. "The Prescott family is no longer what it used to be. We went from running Cloudhaven to barely holding on. We're on the verge of being kicked out of the elite circles entirely..."

He paused, his voice turning ice-cold. "Your father is a useless fool. If my lineage weren't so thin, and if I had anyone else capable to rely on, he never would have inherited the position of family head."

Phoenix listened in silence, her expression perfectly blank. His sob story didn't stir a single ounce of sympathy in her.

Seeing her complete lack of reaction, Alistair's tone grew more forceful. "If it weren't for the last shreds of my reputation holding things together, this family would have been destroyed by your father a long time ago."

"Today, when Phoebe returned to the estate, she brought back a critical piece of information. Old Mr. Miller is critically ill. Milo Miller has been turning the world upside down looking for the 'Azure Healer' to no avail... but Phoebe found him."

The old man's gaze sharpened into a piercing glare, locking onto Phoenix. "As long as the Azure Healer can bring Gideon back from the brink, the Miller family will owe the Prescotts an astronomical debt."

He stared deeply at her, his eyes conveying a silent, heavy question: *Do you understand the magnitude of this?*

"Phoenix, this is—" Meredith couldn't hold her tongue any longer, but before she could finish, a sharp look from Phoenix silenced her instantly.

"Grandpa, since this is what you want, I will naturally respect your wishes." Phoenix picked up her teacup and downed the lukewarm tea in one swift motion.

She set the cup back down, the porcelain clinking sharply against the table. "It's getting late. Meredith and I are going to head up and rest."

"Alright. Go on," Alistair nodded.

Watching the two young women disappear through the doorway, his grip on the cane tightened until his knuckles turned white. A dark, unreadable storm brewed in his clouded eyes.

...

Phoenix tossed a silk pajama top at her, her voice flat. "Because he doesn't trust me."

"He's used to holding all the cards. I survived prison, and Pierce Sterling is a ruthless psycho. Neither of us are people he can control, so naturally, he refuses to place all his bets on us."

"Phoebe, on the other hand, only has a handful of cheap tricks. She's incredibly easy to manipulate. On top of that, your cousin Milo and Old Mr. Miller are fiercely loyal people."

"With a life-saving debt on the books, the Prescotts can use the Millers' influence to keep the Sterlings in check."

Meredith's eyes widened as the realization hit her. "Oh! Now I get it!"

Seeing her adorable, dumbfounded expression, Phoenix couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, stop burning out your brain cells. Just focus on doing what you love. That's all that matters."

While Meredith was technically the CEO of Lumina Jewelry, her ability to hold that seat was entirely due to Phoenix pulling the strings from the shadows.

With Phoenix there, Meredith just needed to keep her rare, innocent heart intact. The world was already dark enough. Protecting this one sliver of light was worth it.

Four years ago, Phoenix had lost her own light. She would never let Meredith suffer the same fate.