Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 53

Vanessa's smile froze, and she fought to force a tone of deep sorrow into her voice. "Phoenix, why do you always assume the worst of me? No matter what happened, I am still your biological mother."

"Phoenix, we're family. We need to clear the air eventually." Warren kept his face dark, trying his hardest to keep his voice level as he placed a glass of milk in front of her. "We were wrong in the past... and we realize our mistakes now."

Phoenix picked up the glass of milk. Seeing the absolute solemnity plastered across Warren's face, the smirk on her lips only deepened.

In the very next second, she violently threw her arm forward—

Splash!

The white liquid hit Warren directly in the face, dripping down his collar!

Warren sat there stunned, completely drenched. A ferocious surge of rage quickly turned his neck beet red, but he forcefully swallowed it down, raising a hand to fiercely wipe the milk from his face.

"Family?" Phoenix casually slammed the empty glass upside down onto the dining table, the sharp clink echoing loudly. "You aren't worthy."

"Phoenix, your father and I genuinely know we were wrong!" Vanessa's voice took on a tearful waver, her eyes reddening. "Give us one chance to make it up to you, please?"

"Phoenix, it's all my fault..." Phoebe immediately joined the chorus, her expression earnest and utterly grief-stricken. "I'm the one who ruined everything for you... As long as it quells your anger, I'll do anything!"

"Oh?" Phoenix's gaze pierced into Phoebe like an ice pick. "Anything?"

Phoebe's heart plummeted—had she overplayed her hand?! Was this psycho actually going to ask for it?!

Phoenix looked at Phoebe out of the corner of her eye, a completely devoid-of-warmth smile resting on her lips. "Phoebe, I recall my father gave you... five percent of Prescott Group's shares?"

Her tone was flat, but it hit the room like a boulder plunging into a serene lake.

Phoebe's pupils constricted! Her hands, hidden under the table, clenched into white-knuckled fists! This lunatic! She was trying to steal her shares?!

"...Yes," she forced herself to stay calm, squeezing out a bitter smile as she looked to Warren and Vanessa for help. "Mom and Dad felt sorry for me... so they transferred them to my name."

She swiftly adopted a tragic yet fiercely understanding posture. "If... you want them... I'm willing to transfer the shares to you."

"Of course, having stolen your rightful place for so many years, this little bit of stock... isn't nearly enough to make up for it. The only thing is, it betrays Mom and Dad's good intentions... but all I want is for you to be happy."

As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears again, making herself look as small and pathetic as possible.

"Phoenix," Vanessa quickly interjected, attempting to shut it down. "Transferring shares isn't a minor issue. You're just starting to get involved with the conglomerate. Having shares dumped into your lap now will be complicated to manage. If it affects the stock price..."

Warren chimed in, his voice grave. "Phoebe is a deeply insecure girl. I gave her those shares to give her peace of mind, so she would know that even as an adopted daughter, we would never abandon her."

"It is highly inappropriate for you to take them now. It would break her heart."

Phoebe felt a wave of relief wash over her.

If Phoenix wanted to establish a foothold in the company, she still had to maintain some basic decency and respect for her father, right? At least for now!

"Mom, Dad, I'm fine..." Phoebe declared 'bravely', letting a tear slip at the perfect moment. "This is the compensation she deserves."

Her gaze swept over the three of them, her tone entirely nonchalant yet leaving zero room for argument. "Of course, don't take too long. I'm not the type... to wait around."

Without bothering to check the sudden, ugly shifts in their expressions, she turned and walked out of the dining room.

Her back radiated utter finality and the supreme confidence of someone completely in control.

Alistair had agreed to let her into Prescott Group, but it was mostly out of political balancing and as a test; he hadn't given her any real, tangible support—namely, the shares that symbolized voting power.

A Prescott heiress without any shares would have incredibly limited influence within the company.

She originally planned to meticulously build up her leverage over time, but since Phoebe so graciously handed her the perfect excuse... she was absolutely taking that five percent!

"That ungrateful bastard!!" Warren fumed, his chest heaving violently, looking like he was about to flip the table. "She's dead set on infiltrating the core of the conglomerate! What makes her think she's worthy of holding five percent?!"

"Husband, calm down!" Vanessa quickly grabbed his arm to anchor him. "Julian warned us not to completely sever ties yet! We have to keep her steady so we can tear her down later!"

Warren took several deep, ragged breaths to force his rage down. Turning to Phoebe, he immediately softened his gaze with pity. "Phoebe, don't worry. What's yours is yours. Your mother and I have a plan."

He patted the back of Phoebe's hand, offering comfort while simultaneously making an undeniable decree: "But for right now... for the sake of the bigger picture... give her the five percent!"

"Mhm," Phoebe nodded obediently, looking at her parents with tear-filled eyes. "I understand. I'll listen to whatever you decide."

Internally, however, she was drowning in a venomous, boiling rage: Phoenix Prescott! You psychotic bitch! Just wait and see!