Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 52

Cassandra Lucas was terrified out of her mind, tears and mascara streaming down her face. "Dad! I'm sorry! I didn't know... I had no idea Phoenix had Pierce Sterling backing her! It was Phoebe! She lied and told me Mr. Sterling was going to marry her! That's why... that's why I went after Phoenix!"

"You stupid bitch!!" Nathaniel roared. He closed the distance and shoved Cassandra so hard she scrambled backward on the floor. "You and your useless uncle are going to be the death of us!"

The sheer weight of the impending ruin nearly made him pass out.

The Lucas family was actually going to be destroyed by two utter fools!

"Get out!" he screamed, pointing at the door, his chest heaving with ragged, desperate breaths. "I don't care what you have to do—beg, crawl, whatever! Go get Phoenix Prescott's forgiveness! If you don't, never set foot in this house again! I have no daughter!"

He slumped back onto the sofa, black spots dancing in his vision.

In that moment, he felt an agonizing wave of jealousy toward Conrad Langston!

Lydia Langston had also been used as a pawn by Phoebe to provoke Phoenix.

But Conrad had acted decisively, offering up one percent of Langston Group shares as an apology.

At the time, Nathaniel had secretly mocked Conrad for losing his mind, bowing and scraping to some ex-con country bumpkin.

Now he realized that he was the biggest fool of all! If he had just been decisive and offered a massive apology... the Lucas family might have survived!

Shane's greed wouldn't have been enough to wipe them off the map. At worst, they would have lost the project and paid heavy reparations.

But Pierce Sterling's wrath on Phoenix's behalf... that was the nail in their coffin!

The VIP booth at Eclipse Nightclub.

Pierce Sterling and Caspian Thorne sat across from each other, the atmosphere heavy and suffocating.

Caspian discreetly eyed the man across the table.

Ever since leaving the Prescott Estate, the terrifying aura rolling off Pierce hadn't dissipated. Married men... they were impossible to read.

"Caspian."

"Yeah? Pierce?" Caspian sat up straight.

Pierce swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his voice a low rumble. "Phoenix and I signed the marriage papers. It's only natural for a legally married couple to live together, right?"

"Natural. Extremely natural," Caspian nodded vigorously, though his mind was reeling. The Reaper wanted to cohabitate?! Was this really the same Pierce Sterling who never let a woman within ten feet of him? Had hell frozen over?!

Catching Caspian's utterly bewildered expression, Pierce frowned. "Don't overthink it. Phoenix Prescott is surrounded by far too many secrets. Keep your enemies close,"

He stared into his glass. "That's the only way to see clearly."

"Right, right," Caspian muttered, taking a large gulp of his drink.

Pierce continued, seemingly talking to himself to organize his thoughts. "Four years in prison, and she walks out completely transformed. What exactly did she endure in there? And how does she know about Silas..."

Hearing that name, Caspian dropped his playful demeanor. "Pierce, are you absolutely certain your uncle... is involved? He's always played the role of the harmless peacemaker. It doesn't fit..."

Pierce's gaze turned predatory and cold.

If Phoenix hadn't pointed it out, he would have remained blinded by Silas's benevolent mask for much longer!

That old fox put on a show of indifference to the world, but behind closed doors, he was deeply entangled with several of the conglomerate's major shareholders.

Now that he was actively digging, Silas's every move reeked of conspiracy.

Ding.

The Prescott Estate. The master bedroom.

Phoenix leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, a white silk nightgown tracing her stunning curves.

She opened Pierce's reply:

[How much more do you know? Tell me. Name your price.]

A smirk played on her lips as her fingers flew across the screen:

[Mr. Sterling, I'm still investigating. We'll talk when I find a new lead.]

Pressing send, she didn't wait for a response, simply tossing her phone aside and falling back onto the plush mattress.

Tonight's haul was spectacular. She would sleep incredibly well.

The next morning. The dining room.

Phoenix walked downstairs and saw Warren, Vanessa, and Phoebe already seated at the table.

Julian was nowhere to be seen.

"Phoenix, you're up. Come, have breakfast," Vanessa said, plastering on an unnervingly warm smile and beckoning her over.

Phoebe kept up her obedient facade as well. "Phoenix, Mom specifically asked the kitchen staff to make all your old favorites."

The table was laden with an elegant spread of morning pastries and dishes.

"Heh," Phoenix let out a soft scoff as she pulled out a chair and sat down, her gaze sweeping over the blatantly manufactured 'warmth' of the room. "What new game are we playing today? Don't tell me... you spiked the food?"