Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 123

"Meeting you was my life's greatest luck," Meredith said, tossing her jacket aside and tackling Phoenix in a bear hug like a clingy koala.

"It's been so long since we had a sleepover! I'm going to cling to you all night!"

"Hey, get off me, you maniac." Phoenix pushed at her playfully, though she made no real effort to escape.

Honestly, Meredith looked sweet and innocent, but she was blessed with killer curves. Being crushed in her embrace was borderline suffocating.

"Go take a shower and put your pajamas on!"

"Sir, yes sir!"

Meredith grabbed her pajamas and practically skipped into the bathroom.

Watching her go, Phoenix shook her head with a smile, though the warmth in her eyes slowly dissolved into frost.

There were some things she hadn't said earlier.

Alistair didn't just want the Millers' gratitude. He wanted to weaponize that debt to force a marriage alliance between the two families. That was the real reason he was willing to alienate Phoenix just to protect Phoebe.

As for Meredith, even though she was a Miller by blood, she had been to prison and had severed ties with her family. To Alistair, she was nothing more than a useless, discarded pawn.

*Ding—*

Her phone buzzed.

Phoenix glanced at the screen, an eyebrow arching slightly. It was Pierce Sterling.

[Penelope Sterling was definitely hiding something. Consider this a favor returned. If you want anything, name it.]

Phoenix tapped the screen, typing out a quick reply.

[You're too kind. Since we're partners, sharing intel is part of the job.]

A moment later, Pierce replied.

[I taught Penelope a lesson on your behalf.]

Phoenix blinked in surprise. She had originally intended to let Penelope off the hook to give Pierce some face. She never expected the man to take matters into his own hands.

[Thanks.]

...

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room somewhere in the city.

Pierce stared at the single word on his screen, the corners of his mouth curling upward into a rare, involuntary smile.

However, catching sight of that seemingly pleasant expression sent a violent shiver down his assistant Yancy's spine.

When the Reaper of Cloudhaven smiled, someone was usually about to meet their maker.

"Ms. Sterling." One of the men crouched down, casually flipping a folding knife. "My brother and I are just here for the money. We don't want to hurt anyone. If you cooperate and play nice, I promise you won't lose a single hair on your head. But if you try anything stupid..." He waved the gleaming blade. "You know exactly what'll happen."

Staring at the sharp edge, Penelope's heart hammered frantically in her chest. She nodded as hard as she could.

Satisfied, the man reached out and ripped the tape off her mouth.

"I... I am the eldest daughter of the Sterling family!" The moment her mouth was free, Penelope immediately tried to use her status as a shield. "You abducted me! Aren't you terrified of what Pierce will do to you?"

The crouching man scoffed. "Please. Don't think just because your last name is Sterling that you're somehow close to the boss. We did our homework. You're just a branch member. Your dad is Silas, the old man's second son."

He stood up, towering over her. "If you were actually Pierce's biological sister, we might have thought twice. But alas... you're just a side character. To us, you're nothing but a walking ATM."

Penelope froze.

They knew her father's name and exactly where she stood in the family hierarchy. They had planned this perfectly.

"Don't panic," the man said, softening his tone. "Like I said, we just want the cash. Call your dad right now. Tell him to prepare a hundred million dollars. Cash, or untraceable offshore assets of equal value."

"A hundred million dollars?!" Penelope shrieked. "Why don't you just rob a bank?!"

"Ms. Sterling, that's not very polite," the man sneered, his eyes turning dangerous. "Didn't you just casually drop a hundred million earlier today to buy that Lamborghini Veneno for your little boyfriend? What? Now that it's your own life on the line, suddenly a hundred million is too expensive?"

He shook his head in mock pity. "Tsk, tsk. It's honestly incredible... being this much of a lovestruck idiot is a rare disease. You throw away millions without blinking to please a guy, but when it comes to saving your own skin, your wallet suddenly clamps shut?"