Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 17

"Exactly!" Warren's eyes lit up, as if he had just found the perfect explanation. "Those vicious criminals in prison turned her into a wild animal!"

"Honey," Vanessa said, full of worry. "She's so violent and unpredictable now, and with Old Mr. Alistair backing her, how are we going to..." She didn't dare finish the thought.

"Hmph! What are you afraid of?" Warren scoffed, forcing his hunched back straight despite the pain. "A piece of trash who spent four years mingling in a women's prison—what real power does she have? She just looks scary! She didn't bring up the car crash earlier because she has a guilty conscience. She doesn't dare let Alistair look too closely into it!"

He analyzed the situation with a dark gaze. "She's just pretending to be weak and obedient in front of him! Just wait, she won't last long."

He suddenly remembered his ultimate trump card. "As long as Phoebe's engagement to Pierce is locked in, who in the city would dare disrespect her? No matter how much Alistair dotes on that monster, he'll have to consider the Prescott family's century-old interests!"

A cruel light flickered in Warren's eyes. "Then we'll see who can protect her!"

Vanessa's spirits instantly lifted, hope burning in her eyes. "Yes! Pierce! That's our strongest hand! Who cares if Phoebe is biologically ours or not? As long as she is the acknowledged fiancée of Mr. Sterling, even if Alistair hates it, he'll have to swallow his pride and accept it!"

She could already see the hope of crushing Phoenix back into the dirt.

Phoebe kept her head down, hiding the wild ambition and excitement dancing in her eyes.

Pierce... he was her ladder to the absolute pinnacle of power. Did you really think taking back a bedroom meant you won, Phoenix? The humiliation and terror you caused me today, I will repay a hundred, a thousand times over! I'll make you watch as I steal and crush everything you hold dear!

"Phoebe," Warren mused for a moment, a ruthless expression crossing his face. "Call Julian. Tell him there's a traitor in the house, that Grandpa has been manipulated, and beg him to come back as soon as possible to take control!"

With just him and his youngest daughter, they couldn't suppress Phoenix's violent aura right now. They needed someone stronger to hold the fort. And Julian Prescott, the executive vice president of the Prescott Group, was far more ruthless than Warren had ever been in his prime.

Phoebe's eyes immediately lit up. Julian! Yes! She needed her sharpest blade right now! Remembering how Phoenix used to cower in terror in front of Julian before she went to prison...

A cruel, satisfied smirk crept onto Phoebe's lips.

She could already picture Julian's cold, disdainful gaze falling on that demon, and Phoenix reverting to her long-lost trembling fear.

"First, with Phoenix's return today, her identity will no longer be kept in the shadows." Alistair's tone was ironclad. "What the Prescott family owes her, we will pay back openly. Therefore, I will choose a date to host a formal banquet, inviting all the elite families of Cloudhaven to properly introduce my biological granddaughter!"

"Dad! Absolutely not!"

Warren's face twisted dramatically, practically shouting as the pain in his back flared.

"She just got out of prison!" he pointed at Phoenix, his eyes filled with venom. "Once that stain is exposed, the Prescotts will become the biggest laughingstock in Cloudhaven! How will the other families look at us?!"

His chest heaved as if he were deeply heartbroken. "And look at her! Look at her! Prison turned her into a monster! How long has she been home? She's turned the house upside down, ruined Phoebe's room, and assaulted her own father! A rebellious, unfilial creature like her doesn't have an ounce of grace expected of a wealthy heiress! She doesn't deserve it!"

Phoenix held a white porcelain teacup, her thumb slowly tracing the smooth rim. A chillingly sharp smile curved her lips.

"Father, did I hit the wrong person?"