Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 39

Cassandra felt as if she were staring at a primordial beast that had broken its chains, rising slowly from a sea of blood, its lethal fangs already pressed against her throat!

She looked as if she had been struck by lightning. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed directly onto the pile of insulting gold bars with a heavy thud! Her face was drained of all color, and a warm puddle spread beneath her as she completely lost control of her bladder in sheer terror!

The foul scent spread through the luxurious banquet hall. Guests covered their noses and frowned, their eyes darting around with a mix of disgust and shock.

Nathaniel's wrinkled face flushed so red it looked like it was bleeding. He wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury himself!

"You embarrassing disgrace! Get back home and reflect on your actions!" he roared at Cassandra, who was sprawled on the floor in a daze. He then forced down his humiliation, turned to the terrifying woman, and adopted an extremely subservient posture. "Ms. Prescott! The Lucas family failed to discipline her, and she was utterly disrespectful! I will personally apologize at your door another day! I will take this nuisance home immediately!"

"Nathaniel!" Lydia, completely misreading the room, jumped out defensively, her face red. "The truth speaks for itself! Cassandra only stated the facts! Did she not go to prison?! Why can't anyone talk about it?! Just because the Prescott family has power, you can act like tyrants?!"

She appeared to be standing up for her friend, but in reality, Phoenix's icy stare had terrified her so deeply she needed to yell just to build her own courage.

Nathaniel almost coughed up blood, wanting nothing more than to sew Lydia's mouth shut on the spot!

Couldn't she see that Phoenix didn't care who they were and would attack regardless? And she dared add fuel to the fire? Thinking deeper about this entire situation...

Nathaniel's eyes flashed like lightning, stabbing toward Phoebe, who was playing the worried sister nearby. These two idiots were being used as weapons!

"Heh..." A crystal-clear scoff rang out, like shattering icicles.

Phoenix's gaze locked onto the still-fuming Lydia like a precision-guided missile.

"I almost forgot, there is you too." She walked forward slowly. Every step matched Lydia's wildly spiking heart rate, looking exactly like a queen arriving at an execution. "Lydia, I assume you prepared a gift for me as well?"

Lydia's throat tightened, her knuckles turning bone-white as she clutched the small gift box in her hands.

Phoenix's gaze fell lightly onto the box Lydia was practically trying to hide in her palms.

"Come on, let me see what your sincerity looks like," her voice was slow, yet carried an undeniable command.

"Ms. Prescott, this gift..." Lydia forced out a smile uglier than crying, her brain rapidly scrambling for an excuse. "It is actually..."

Before she could finish!

A slender, elegant hand hiding terrifying strength snatched the box directly from her grip with the speed of lightning!

"Give it back!!" Lydia shrieked, lunging forward like a cat with its tail stepped on!

Phoenix didn't dodge. With a nearly imperceptible flick of her wrist—a deliberately executed move!

Smack!!

A brutally loud slap exploded in the room!

The side of Lydia's face jerked violently, a bright red handprint instantly surfacing!

The one who struck her wasn't Phoenix. It was Conrad Langston!

He had charged out of the crowd at some point, his aged face pale with terror and towering rage!

"You ungrateful brat!! Shut your mouth!!" Trembling with anger, he pointed at the glaring silver bracelets by Phoenix's feet and roared, "Is this the grand gift you prepared?! Who taught you such dirty tricks?! Will you not be satisfied until you have completely humiliated the Langston family?!!!"

That slap and shout were seventy percent genuine fury and thirty percent a necessary act for Alistair to see!

Lydia clutched her face, entirely stunned, her eyes filled with confusion and grievance. "Dad... I..."

Conrad couldn't bear to look at the idiot for another second!

He took a deep breath and turned to the cold-eyed young woman.