Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 74

Ten minutes later, in the lobby of Pegasus Plaza.

Phoenix stood amidst the bustling crowd, helplessly rubbing her temples. She had anticipated every possible scenario, but she never guessed that Pierce's requested "price" would be going shopping with him.

"Phoenix, we are legally married," Pierce stated matter-of-factly, his tone brokering no argument. "To ensure the Patriarch doesn't get suspicious, we need to move in together starting today."

Phoenix remained expressionless, staring straight at him, her eyes practically screaming a silent protest.

Pierce ignored it completely, continuing, "The house is already prepped. We just need to buy a few daily necessities..." He suddenly leaned in, his warm breath brushing against her ear, his voice dropping into a seductive register. "Like you said, if we're going to put on a show, we have to go all out."

Phoenix took a half-step back, creating some distance. "Ninth, by your logic, shouldn't we also throw a massive wedding and invite the whole city? Are you sure you want to take it that far?"

"I know my earlier words were slightly out of line, and I apologize for that. But moving in together... that's completely unnecessary." She genuinely thought her previous comment about "using him as a weapon" had bruised his massive ego. After all, the Reaper of Cloudhaven had a reputation to uphold.

"Phoenix, the prenuptial agreement never stated we couldn't live together. Naturally, even under the same roof, we'll stay out of each other's way," Pierce replied, his tone unyielding. "As for the wedding banquet, I've already spoken to the Patriarch. We're delaying it for a year."

"Oh?" Phoenix raised an eyebrow. "How did you convince Arthur?"

"I told him a fortune teller warned that this year is cursed for marriage."

Phoenix was speechless.

Sure enough, the deeper you went into billionaire society, the more superstitious people got.

"Phoenix, you can't run from this." Pierce looked at her as if she were prey trapped in his net. "Since you dared to partner with me, you don't get to say no. Unless... you want to be destroyed by the very weapon you picked up."

Meeting his endless, dark gaze, Phoenix understood. This man really would do whatever it took to achieve his goals.

"Fine. If that's how you want to play it, go ahead." She had nothing left to lose anyway, so it didn't matter.

With that, she turned and started walking ahead.

"Where are you going?"

Phoenix paused her steps, waving her hand without looking back. "Ninth, I agreed to come shopping, but I never said we had to walk shoulder-to-shoulder, did I?"

Pierce froze slightly, watching her confident, retreating figure. For a moment, he was genuinely lost for words.

Whatever. All roads led to the same destination; they'd end up going home together anyway.

"Phoenix Prescott, I will dig up every single secret you're hiding, piece by piece," he murmured, his gaze darkening as he watched her walk away.

Phoenix strolled aimlessly, simply wanting to put as much distance between herself and that dangerous man as possible.

Without realizing it, she stopped in front of a lavishly decorated jewelry boutique.

The dazzling gemstones displayed in the window instantly reminded her of an old friend.

Just then, a sharp, grating voice shattered the quiet elegance of the boutique.

"Well, well, isn't this the Prescott family's newly released heiress?"

Phoenix's good mood instantly shattered into a million pieces.

She turned around to see Lydia Langston clinging to a man's arm, strutting over with her nose in the air.

"Don't let her glamorous look fool you. In reality... she's just a country bumpkin and an ex-con who just got out a few days ago," Lydia sneered, her face filled with contempt. "She probably came in here looking for some silver bracelets to reminisce about her days behind bars."

At her words, the sales associates' faces drastically shifted.

Their previously attentive gazes quickly turned suspicious and scornful, looking at Phoenix as if she were dirt on the floor.

Phoenix took a deep breath, her eyes turning ice-cold. "Lydia, it seems losing that one percent of your family's shares still hasn't taught you to keep your mouth shut?"

Lydia's face paled before contorting with rage.

Losing that one percent of shares was a thorn in her side; she had even been beaten for it. She simply couldn't fathom why her father was so terrified of a jailbird hick.

Wasn't it just because she had Ninth backing her up? Without Ninth, she was absolutely nothing!

Lydia's eyes darted around before she immediately plastered on a pitiful expression, leaning into the man beside her. "Cade, look at her... she's bullying me!"