Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 72

Xenia's heart gave a violent lurch.

This psycho! That family's bankruptcy was indeed Pierce's doing!

"I'll... give it to her!" Knowing she couldn't escape this, Phoebe humiliatingly pulled the contract from her designer bag and handed it over with trembling fingers. "This... belonged to Ms. Prescott anyway."

"Phoebe..." Seeing Phoebe swallow her pride, Xenia felt an unbearable ache in her chest. "Don't worry. Whatever you lose, I will help you win back!"

Phoebe offered a tragic, fragile smile before her body suddenly went limp. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed backward.

"Phoebe! Phoebe, what's wrong?!"

Terrified out of her wits, Xenia quickly caught the girl and frantically prepared to rush out of the conference room.

Watching this unfold, a cold smirk curled on Phoenix's lips.

Phoebe's tricks truly hadn't evolved a single bit in ten years.

Back at the Prescott Estate, whenever Phoebe wanted to frame her or direct the family's wrath toward her, her favorite tactic was this "overcome with emotion and fainting on the spot" routine.

In those moments, the family's fury would peak, and no matter what Phoenix said, any explanation paled in comparison to the sight of a helpless, unconscious victim.

But today...

"Hold on."

Phoenix called out lazily, stopping Xenia in her tracks.

"Phoenix, she's unconscious! What more do you want?!" Xenia glared at her furiously.

Phoenix offered an enigmatic smile, slowly rolling up her sleeves. "Actually, I learned a bit of medicine while I was locked up. Since she fainted, why don't I treat her?"

Resting against Xenia's shoulder, Phoebe's eyelids twitched imperceptibly. The mockery in Phoenix's tone instinctively signaled danger.

"You? Know medicine?!" Xenia looked at her in pure disbelief.

"Is that so surprising?" Pierce stood with his hands in his pockets, watching Phoenix with keen interest. "In a place like that, injuries are a daily occurrence. If you don't learn some medicine to protect yourself, how do you survive?"

His logic was flawless, leaving no room for argument.

The surrounding executives hadn't dared to breathe since Pierce walked in. Now, seeing the two of them tag-teaming the situation, they bizarrely sensed a natural, unified chemistry between them.

God! They must be going crazy.

This was the Reaper of Cloudhaven, a man famous for remaining completely celibate. Yet standing next to Phoenix, their combined alpha energy was damn near a perfect match.

"Director Upton, you want Phoebe to wake up quickly too, don't you?" Phoenix narrowed her eyes, pressing her long fingers together until her knuckles let out satisfying, sharp pops.

Hearing that sound, Phoebe's brow twitched frantically.

What is this woman planning? Is she going to hit me?!

"Look, she's sweating cold sweat. That means her body is reacting and purging the toxins," Phoenix bullshitted with a perfectly straight face.

Incredibly, Xenia bought it. "She really is reacting! Keep going!"

Phoebe screamed in despair in her mind: Xenia, you absolute idiot! How can you be this stupid?! Can't you see she's torturing me?!

But then again, if Xenia wasn't so gullible, she wouldn't have been so easily manipulated by Phoebe all these years. This was truly a taste of her own medicine!

"Alright, this next move is called the 'Soul Return.' There are no needles involved, but the finger pressure goes much deeper."

A cruel hint of amusement bled into Phoenix's voice.

Phoebe completely panicked, goosebumps erupting over her entire body.

That sounded like a lethal strike!

"Ah—!"

Unable to fake it a second longer, Phoebe shrieked, her eyes flying open as she frantically yanked her hand back. "W-what happened to me?"

She stumbled away from Phoenix's demonic grip, quickly fixing her expression to look like she had just jolted awake from a deep fog.

"Phoebe, you really are awake!" Xenia was overjoyed. "You suddenly fainted just now, and..." She shot a reluctant glance at Phoenix before finishing, "Phoenix cured you."