Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 71

"Xenia, Ms. Prescott is right." Phoebe wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, forcing a pale smile. "After all, I'm just an imposter who took up her space. I was too greedy, foolishly hoping for the love of my father and brothers."

Seeing Phoebe look so deeply wronged while trying to force a smile, Xenia's heart broke.

"Phoebe, don't cry." She protectively pulled the girl behind her. "Your parents and brothers love you because you deserve it. Don't let this woman's words mess with your head."

Her tone shifting sharply, Xenia glared viciously at Phoenix. "You might have suffered for over a decade, but what does that have to do with Phoebe? How could a baby control getting switched at birth?"

"It's just your fate. You had a bad draw in life, so who can you blame?"

Clap, clap, clap.

Before Phoenix could respond, a lazy, rhythmic clapping echoed abruptly, instantly slicing through the noise in the conference room.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the door, only to see a tall, slender figure stepping in against the light.

The man was enveloped in a suffocating wave of dominance, his predatory aura making everyone in the room hold their breath.

"The corporate culture at Prescott Group truly is an eye-opener. The concept of victim-blaming is flawlessly executed by an executive like you."

"Ninth?!"

Xenia froze in shock. "What are you doing here?"

Pierce Sterling walked with steady steps, his gaze sweeping past the crowd to land precisely on Phoenix. His thin lips parted. "I'm here to pick up my fiancée, naturally."

The word "fiancée" struck Xenia's heart like a bolt of lightning.

Though she had heard rumors of an engagement between the Sterling and Prescott families, it was strictly confined to an exclusive circle and hadn't reached her level. Hearing it now, she genuinely wondered if this man was an imposter.

The Reaper of Cloudhaven, Ninth himself—the man who notoriously kept all women at arm's length—was openly acknowledging an engagement with Phoenix Prescott?

"Impossible!" Xenia snapped out of her daze, pointing furiously at Phoenix. "Phoenix, what kind of filthy, underhanded tricks did you use to steal Phoebe's engagement?!"

"Even if this engagement is real, it would never fall to someone like you!"

A trace of mockery flashed in Phoenix's eyes. She genuinely suspected Xenia had left her brain at home today, or perhaps she had been so thoroughly brainwashed by Phoebe's masterful manipulations that she could no longer distinguish right from wrong.

"On the contrary, some people grow up surrounded by luxury and receive the finest education, yet to their core... they are nothing but manipulative, deceitful trash."

Hearing this, Phoebe dug her nails so hard into her palms that she almost drew blood.

Every single word out of Ninth's mouth was a veiled insult aimed at her. Why? Why was she being reduced to nothing?

She was universally recognized in high society as a flawless heiress, a Harvard graduate who excelled in everything. How could a violent brute like Phoenix even compare to her?

Pierce retracted his gaze, and the ice in his eyes melted instantly when he looked back at Phoenix. "Are you finished here?"

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, not bothering to correct the intimate implication. She replied casually, "Almost. I'm just waiting for Phoebe to hand over the five percent share transfer agreement."

Hearing this, Pierce turned back and held his hand out toward Xenia.

"W-what?" Xenia's mind went blank as she stared at him in confusion.

"The share transfer agreement," Pierce demanded, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. His tone brooked no argument. "You have three seconds. Otherwise... I'll make sure the Uptons follow the other family into bankruptcy liquidation."