Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 126

Night had settled peacefully over Prescott Manor.

"I miss Coach Yara," Meredith murmured, curling tightly into a ball. Like a kitten clinging to its owner, she buried herself deep into Phoenix's embrace.

This level of absolute, unreserved dependence was something she only ever showed back in that isolated hellhole, during the days they only had each other to rely on.

Phoenix's lips curved into a soft smile. She gently patted Meredith's back, her tone gentle. "Coach Yara told us that once we got out, we were never to look back."

"But we'll definitely see her again out here in the real world."

Meredith frowned slightly, a hint of confusion and helplessness in her voice. "Honestly, with how terrifyingly capable she is, getting out of that place should be a walk in the park for her, shouldn't it?"

"I mean, she easily arranged for you to get out and breathe fresh air whenever you wanted."

"You're right." Phoenix gave a small nod, her eyes darkening. "Yara definitely has the power to leave. But you have to understand, the enemies watching her are just as terrifying."

"When your wings aren't fully grown, the safest way to survive is to hide your sharp edges and wait for the perfect moment to strike."

Meredith's expression turned serious. If someone as formidable as Coach Yara had to be that cautious, just how horrifying were her enemies?

"When are we going to wait until?" she couldn't help but ask.

Phoenix shook her head, offering no answer.

Truthfully, she didn't know either. Yara had only told her that when the time was right, she would reach out.

"You have a pure heart. There's no need for you to get dragged into this mess of deception and bloodshed," Phoenix sighed softly, her gaze distant. "The reason Yara refused to teach you her ruthless methods back then was because she wanted you to keep that innocence intact."

"But I want to protect you, and I want to protect Yara too." Meredith wrapped her arms tighter around Phoenix, as if she was terrified the woman would vanish if she let go.

"Relax." Feeling the slight tremble in the girl's body, a confident smirk touched Phoenix's lips. "I am not the same helpless punching bag I used to be."

"Everyone who trampled on my pride and humiliated me... I'll make every single one of them pay."

*Ding.*

A crisp notification shattered the quiet intimacy.

Phoenix grabbed her phone, casually glancing at the screen. Her pupils shrank slightly.

It was a bank transfer notification.

"A hundred million dollars?" She raised an eyebrow, letting out a soft laugh. "Who's generous enough to casually wire me a hundred million in the middle of the night?"

"What did you say? A hundred million?!" Meredith sprang up from the bed like a coiled spring. She shoved her face toward the phone screen and gasped. "Oh my god, you're right! Anyone who can move that kind of liquid cash at this hour has to be a major player."

Hearing Meredith's analysis, Pierce Sterling's cold, striking face instantly flashed in Phoenix's mind.

The nightclub was her property now, and she absolutely refused to let a piece of trash like Ian ruin her business.

The leak came directly from a VIP room.

Eclipse's entire brand was built on ironclad privacy protection. A breach like this could be a fatal blow to their reputation.

Just as she was beginning to worry, a new tweet popped up.

The whistleblower was none other than one of Ian's "loyal friends."

[Ian Prescott is a complete hypocrite! He acts all innocent for his fans, but behind closed doors, he's an alcoholic pervert. As a friend, I couldn't stomach his behavior anymore. I had to rip off his mask to stop him from manipulating any more innocent fans!]

What a brilliant, self-righteous backstab!

The moment the tweet went live, it instantly cleared Eclipse Nightclub of any wrongdoing.

This was an internal dispute caused by Ian making terrible friends, completely unrelated to the club's security protocols.

"This guy really knows how to play the game," Phoenix muttered under her breath.

"Are you saying... Pierce did all of this?"