Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 26

Pierce's bottomless gaze pierced through the noise and distance, freezing on Phoenix's stunningly radiant yet deeply provocative face.

His tightly pressed, hard-lined lips seemed to twitch upward in a barely perceptible curve.

Then, he spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried crushing weight, clearly piercing through every gap in the room and landing solidly in everyone's ears. "My fiancée..."

He paused slightly, his gaze locking Phoenix in place like an invisible shackle.

"Do I 'truly' despise women?"

"I think—" His eyes swept over Phoenix's slightly raised chin, a fleeting emotion flashing deep within his gaze. "You know that best."

Boom!

Those words dropped like thunder, exploding above everyone's heads and leaving their ears ringing.

After a moment of absolute dead silence, a storm of collective gasps swept the room. Countless shocked, terrified, and probing gazes darted frantically between Phoenix and Pierce. This wasn't an implication; this was Pierce Sterling personally authenticating Phoenix's identity in front of everyone!

Leo's vision went completely dark for a second. He stumbled, nearly losing his footing.

Julian stood rooted to the spot, his mouth hanging open unconsciously. His face was as pale as paper, entirely petrified, as if his soul had been sucked out of his body.

The sly gleam in Phoenix's eyes flashed like a meteor.

Without a hint of hesitation, and moving with an almost lazy certainty, she fully supported Macy's weight and walked steadily toward the stairs leading up to Pierce.

The crowd parted for her automatically, like Moses splitting the sea.

Step by step, she finally stopped right in front of Pierce.

He was very tall, and standing on the stairs made him tower over her.

She had to tilt her head up slightly to meet his fathomless, commanding gaze.

Under the intense scrutiny of hundreds of frozen, breathless onlookers—

Phoenix made her move.

She let go of Macy, allowing her to lean against the railing, and then—

Her right hand shot out like a striking viper, impossibly fast!

Snatch!

She accurately grabbed Pierce's crisp, impossibly expensive suit tie and yanked downward with explosive force!

"Ngh..." Caught off guard, Pierce's body swayed slightly under the unexpected strength. A nearly inaudible grunt betrayed his momentary loss of balance.

His usually cold, immovable brow deeply furrowed for the first time, revealing a flash of irritation and extreme surprise.

Just as his eyebrows knitted together and the icy glare in his eyes intensified—

Phoenix stood on her tiptoes.

Only then did she casually turn her head, acting as if she had just remembered something.

Her gaze accurately caught Julian, who was trembling in the corner, drained of all color.

Looking at him, a brilliant yet bone-chilling smile slowly bloomed on her lips.

Her red lips parted. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a lazy mockery sharp enough to pierce everyone's heart. "Clearly..."

She paused on purpose, savoring Julian's absolute despair.

Then, those beautiful eyes—now sharp as a predatory cat's—swept carelessly across the room, full of unmasked contempt and boredom.

More specifically, she looked at the women hiding behind the crowd, huddled in the corners, their faces a chaotic mix of shock, jealousy, and panic—the heavily dolled-up female escorts.

"...My fiancé..."

"He really doesn't... have an aversion to women."

She dragged out the final syllable, her smile deepening. Every word carried a devastating, targeted blow. "He just simply..."

"Hates! Idiots!"

"Especially those—"

"Who think a pretty face is enough to prance around, bat their eyes, and dream of marrying to the top."

"Absolute. Idiots."