Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 19

Inside Eclipse Nightclub, the air was thick with the sticky scent of expensive alcohol and fermented hormones.

Dressed in sleek black, Phoenix stood at the edge of the crystal lighting, looking as aloof as ice thrown into a furnace.

"Phoenix!"

A flash of brilliant red cut through the blurry lights, practically throwing itself forward in killer heels.

Macy Monroe, rocking bright red lipstick and a seductive gaze, radiated genuine, unadulterated joy the moment she locked eyes with Phoenix. "Come here! Let's drink to your return to the living!"

She familiarly dragged Phoenix to a VIP booth and shoved a glass of crystal-clear gin into her hand. "We're partying tonight! We need to wash off the stench of that prison!"

Phoenix took the glass. The spicy liquid burned down her throat, sparking a long-lost sense of satisfaction. She downed it in one go and tapped the rim with her cold fingertips.

"How was the homecoming?" Macy leaned in, her eyes full of concern and hunger for gossip.

"Not bad," Phoenix replied, a faint smirk touching her lips while frost gathered in her eyes. "Drew some blood, got recognized by the patriarch, and extorted some cash."

Her casual summary made Macy gasp. "Tell me everything!"

Phoenix gave her a brief rundown of the events at the Prescott Estate.

"You whipped Warren? Took over Phoebe's room, scammed millions out of them, and... Old Mr. Alistair actually backed you up?" She gave a massive thumbs-up. "Girl! You went to prison and came back a queen!"

Phoenix rubbed her thumb against the cold glass, staring at the shifting lights on the dance floor. "Four years in there taught me one thing. When you're surrounded by wolves, you have to be sharper and more ruthless than them. Only then will they know to steer clear."

A flash of sympathy crossed Macy's eyes. She reached out and hugged Phoenix's shoulders. "Whether it's wolves or your biological dad, you've got me now! And you've got Ignis Global!" She lifted her chin with a hint of pride. "Ignis is a heavyweight in Cloudhaven now. Assets? Billions! Now that you're back, this CEO chair..."

"You keep the chair," Phoenix cut in smoothly. "I'm going to take back the Prescott 'family business' with my own two hands." She paused, her voice dropping. "I'm going to make them taste what it's like to have absolutely nothing."

Macy sighed. "Man... they have no idea what an absolute powerhouse they missed out on."

"They didn't miss out." Phoenix swirled her glass, the amber liquid reflecting her sharp eyes. "They're just stupid."

The alcohol, mixed with her sympathy, went to Macy's head as she slumped softly against Phoenix's shoulder.

Just then, Macy's phone vibrated.

The screen flashed with a highly offensive contact name: [That Bastard]

"Macy, your phone."

But Macy was too buzzed and too lazy to answer.

Phoenix shook her head and answered it for her, but Macy suddenly jumped up, snatched the phone back, and hung up aggressively.

"Tonight is girls' night! Nobody is interrupting us!"

She shouted, rushing out onto the dance floor like a burst of flame, instantly igniting the restless atmosphere and drawing hungry stares from the shadows.

Ignoring the faint murmurs of dissatisfaction behind him, Julian strode out.

Once he conquered that woman, he would hold the keys to the massive ship that was Ignis Global. These executives at the table were nothing compared to that.

Back at the nightclub's dance floor, intoxicating beams of light sliced through the frantic crowd.

Taking advantage of the chaos, a hairy, veiny hand grabbed Macy's swaying waist.

"Get off me!" Macy instantly flared up. Being drunk didn't diminish her ferocity; she spun around and delivered a flawless shoulder throw.

The massive man who slammed into the floor—Vinnie "The Tiger" Rossi, a regional boss of The Obsidian Syndicate—instantly turned livid.

"You bitch! Stop playing hard to get!" he roared, scrambling up with pure menace in his eyes. "Tonight I'll show you what it means to—"

Before he could finish!

A dark silhouette sliced in like a phantom.

A delicate, almost translucent hand locked onto the filthy wrist Vinnie was aiming at Macy's neck, clamping down like an iron vise.

Vinnie yanked his head in shock, meeting a pair of eyes colder and more unfathomable than the darkest corner of the club.

"Show her what?" Phoenix's voice wasn't loud, but it cut cleanly through the heavy bass, piercing everyone's eardrums. "A piece of trash like you isn't worthy."