Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 222

The Langham Club was a luxurious playground for the city's socialites and wealthy wives.

Women of high society, like Vanessa, frequently hosted tea parties here. On the surface, it was about networking, but in reality, it was just another battlefield for vanity and power. Their topics inevitably revolved around their children's futures, elite gossip, or the latest runway luxury items.

At that moment, Cora handed the phone back to Vanessa, a perfectly poised smile on her lips.

"Mrs. Prescott, is there a misunderstanding between you two? You know what they say: mothers and daughters never hold grudges overnight. As long as you talk it out, there's nothing that can't be resolved."

It sounded like gentle comfort, but to Vanessa, it was razor-sharp.

A misunderstanding? Things between her and Phoenix had long escalated past simple misunderstandings. It was the bloody reality of sending her own flesh and blood to prison just to cover up for her adopted daughter.

"Mrs. Miller just returned to the country, so she probably hasn't heard the news yet."

A lazy, teasing voice chimed in. It was Lucinda Thorne, who was sitting next to Cora. She looked elegant, but her gaze raked over Vanessa's rigid face without a shred of subtlety. "I heard that Mrs. Prescott officially severed ties with her biological daughter a few days ago."

"Severed ties?" Cora feigned surprise, letting her gaze linger on Vanessa for a second.

Inwardly, she scoffed. Her attempts at peacemaking had indeed been pointless. If they had reached the point of disownment, their mother-daughter bond was already dead and buried.

"You talk too much, Mrs. Thorne." Vanessa narrowed her eyes, shooting a cold glare at the stunning woman.

Lucinda was Caspian's mother and had never seen eye to eye with Vanessa.

"Oh, Mrs. Prescott, as a fellow mother, I'm just giving you some friendly advice." Lucinda picked up her bone-china teacup, taking a delicate sip before continuing casually. "That Phoenix girl has looks and talent—she beats Phoebe in every way. As a parent, I just can't fathom why you would toss aside such an outstanding biological daughter to kiss the feet of an adopted one."

"The Prescott family's private matters are none of your concern." Vanessa's hands curled into tight fists in her lap, her perfectly manicured red nails digging into her palms. "Besides, my Phoebe is highly educated, well-mannered, and graceful. She is far beyond some wild girl raised in the country like Phoenix."

"Is that so?" Lucinda shrugged, her tone light. "But it just so happens that the biological daughter you look down upon completely overshadowed your precious adopted one. Take the International Jewelry Expo, for example..."

"Enough!" Vanessa snapped, her chest heaving with fury. "The investigation at the jewelry expo hasn't concluded yet. Watch your mouth!"

Phoebe's plagiarism scandal at the International Jewelry Expo had already spread through their social circles. Even though it wasn't officially legally settled, everyone knew the truth. Vanessa had specifically brought Phoebe to this tea party to salvage some face, so she wasn't about to let someone tear them down in public.

"Alright, let's leave it at that," Cora intervened smoothly to play peacemaker. "Today's tea party is about connecting with one another. Let's not ruin the mood over trivial matters."

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