Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 28

Leo wiped his cold sweat, forcing a smile. "Mr. Sterling, it's all my fault for not disciplining my men properly! I will personally visit you on another day, bringing generous gifts to apologize to your fiancée..."

Before he could finish, Pierce took the glowing cherry of his cigarette and, with a faint sizzle, crushed it deliberately and precisely right into the center of Leo's forehead!

The sickening smell of burning flesh instantly filled the air.

"Mmph!" Leo's body convulsed violently from the pain, but he clamped his jaw shut, not daring to let out a single groan, the veins on his forehead bulging wildly.

Pierce casually tossed the cigarette butt aside, sliding his hands back into his pockets. His voice was utterly emotionless, devoid of a single ripple. "I'm sparing you this once, strictly because you used to run with that woman."

He turned to leave but paused as if remembering something. His gaze drifted lightly toward Julian, whose face was ghostly pale in the corner.

"Oh, right."

"That Mr. Julian..." A naked, mocking sneer curled on Pierce's lips. "I don't know him."

"...!!!" Julian looked as if he had been struck by lightning, frantically trying to explain. "Mr. Sterling! I'm Phoenix's biological brother!"

"Brother?" Pierce scoffed, his eyes turning to ice. "Like you're worthy?"

With that, he walked straight out, his towering figure disappearing into the light at the entrance.

Caspian followed closely behind. As he passed Julian, he let out a frivolous whistle, mouthing a deeply mocking word: "Trash!"

The suffocating, terrifying pressure vanished the moment Pierce left.

Leo caught his breath. He lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Julian like a starving wolf.

"Mr... Julian?" Leo's voice sounded like sandpaper grinding on rusted iron, every word dripping with sinister malice. "I haven't quite... blown off all my steam yet."

Late at night, the Prescott estate was brilliantly lit.

Warren, Vanessa, and Phoebe sat around the living room, the atmosphere heavy.

Phoebe sobbed softly, her face tear-stained. "Dad, Mom, my sister... she's become so terrifying. What's going to happen to our family? It must be my fault... I took away your love, I took her room, and I caused her to... go to that place..."

She looked up with teary eyes, her voice trembling with infinite self-blame. "It's my fault she turned out like this..."

Her pitiful demeanor instantly struck Vanessa's heart.

"Oh, Phoebe, be good! It's not your fault!" She hugged Phoebe achingly. "She was born a heartless, ungrateful wretch! I thought prison would break her rebellious streak, but who knew... she'd get even worse!"

"Mom... I... I should just move out..." Phoebe let a teardrop fall at the perfect moment, looking even more frail and helpless.

"It's nothing... I ran into a little accident on the road... took a fall." He gave a vague excuse, his fists clenching tightly behind his back.

"Julian! How could you be so careless!" Phoebe immediately rushed over, using her handkerchief to gently dab at the cuts on his cheek, her eyes filled with unconcealed heartache.

"Does it hurt?"

Surrounded by Phoebe's gentle concern, the stifling rage in Julian's chest slightly eased, and his tone softened. "Don't worry, Phoebe. It's just some scratches."

Phoebe's eyes shimmered with tears. "It's all my fault... Am I bringing bad luck to the family? Dad was beaten by my sister earlier, and now you..."

"Dad was beaten?!" Julian whipped his head around, his pupils contracting sharply.

Phoenix's icy words exploded in his mind: 'I had no problem slapping Warren!' She wasn't just talking tough?!

"Exactly!" Phoebe quickly added fuel to the fire, exaggerating how Warren was whipped and how Phoenix had defied and disrespected them, emphasizing Phoenix's 'arrogance' and 'malice' toward her.

She looked at Julian with eager anticipation, waiting for him to explode in anger and go take care of Phoenix.

But instead...

"...Dad, Mom," Julian remained silent for a moment, his voice unusually heavy. "For the time being, let's try not to... provoke Phoenix."