Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 139

Although their whispered conversation was discreet, it aroused Marcus's vigilance.

In the corner, Meredith appeared agitated, yet her eyes were unusually resolute. This made Marcus instinctively feel a trace of unease, his nerves instantly taut.

"Uncle Thaddeus, I have an urgent matter and must leave for a bit." Milo walked briskly over to Thaddeus, his expression grave. "I'll be back in exactly an hour."

Thaddeus frowned, scrutinizing his nephew suspiciously. He had just been glued to the old man's side, but after exchanging a few words with Meredith, he suddenly needed to leave?

He instinctively swept a glance at Meredith. That probing gaze made Meredith's heart skip a beat, but she forced herself not to look away.

"Alright, go."

"Hold on."

Marcus abruptly stepped sideways to block the path, his voice sharp. "Dad, this is a matter of life and death. Who knows what he's leaving to do?"

"He was just whispering with Meredith. I have reason to suspect they are secretly scheming something."

Julian, Phoebe, and the Charlatan heard this and all looked over as well.

"Marcus is absolutely right." The old man immediately stood up, voicing his support in a snide tone. "Mr. Miller, you forbid me from leaving, but you're letting this kid go. That's hardly fair."

Julian rolled his eyes, adding with a fake smile, "Milo, even if there's a massive emergency, surely it can wait one hour, right?"

Watching this group gang up to stop him, Meredith's palms grew sweaty from anxiety. "Are you all crazy? Milo genuinely has an emergency. Besides, what kind of trick could he possibly pull off out there to wake Grandpa up? If he really had a way to do that, wouldn't it be a good thing?"

"Tsk. Why is everyone getting so worked up?"

Phoenix lazily curled the corners of her lips, a cold, mocking glint in her eyes as her gaze pierced right through Marcus. "Is someone afraid their conspiracy is about to be exposed, getting too nervous to sit still?"

Marcus's heart violently lurched as he stared dead at Phoenix.

Did this girl know something?

Once Marcus found out they were looking for evidence, let alone leaving the room, they probably wouldn't even be able to maintain the current standoff. Moreover... Thaddeus's current stance was completely obscure. No one could guarantee that the current family head was actually innocent in the matter of poisoning Gideon.

"Merry." Phoenix called out softly, trying to give her strength.

Meredith looked back at Phoenix, giving her a reassuring smile, then took a deep breath and met Thaddeus's gaze.

"Father, I just asked Milo to head back to the estate to grab my flute. Grandpa used to love listening to me play it the most, so I figured..." She turned to look at the withered old man on the bed, her voice softening instantly and laced with a hint of a choke. "I wanted to play one last tune for Grandpa. Maybe... it might wake him up."

A flash of amazement crossed Phoenix's eyes.

She didn't expect Meredith to actually withstand Thaddeus's intimidation and weave such a flawless excuse.

However, this wasn't entirely a lie either.

Meredith had possessed a talent for music since childhood. Phoenix had heard her mention that when she was young, Gideon's favorite pastime was lying back in his armchair, resting his eyes, and listening to his granddaughter's flute.