Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 77

"What did you just say?!" Meredith shot up from her chair, a blinding light flashing behind her glasses. "Are you sure? It was my card?!"

Her secondary card existed for only one person.

If that card had been activated, it meant—she was back.

"Yes! Since I confirmed it was your card, I thought it was unusual..."

Before the secretary could even finish her sentence, Meredith grabbed her coat and bolted out of the office, her voice trembling with excitement. "Celine, excellent work! Your salary is doubled this month!"

"Huh?!" Celine stood there completely stunned. By the time she processed the words, her boss had already vanished into the elevator.

Right at that moment, Meredith's phone rang—it was the second son of the Thorne family.

"Ms. Miller, it's the Lumina Jewelry branch in Pegasus Mall. Someone is openly disrespecting me..."

"Mr. Thorne, I'm actually on my way there now. Please wait a moment."

...

Back inside the boutique.

Phoenix was wandering around out of sheer boredom when her gaze finally locked onto the most prominent display case in the center of the room.

Inside rested a breathtakingly unique ring. Designed like intertwined celestial orbits, it was dazzlingly brilliant.

"What is this ring?" Phoenix asked, pointing at it.

"This ring is named 'The Celestial,' symbolizing 'In the vast universe, I choose only this star.' It is our store's signature masterpiece, and it is strictly not for sale," the associate explained.

"Not for sale?" Phoenix smirked, her tone light. "What if... I've taken a liking to it and insist on taking it?"

"Well..." The associate looked deeply troubled. "Miss, please choose something else. Our boss specifically designed this ring for an incredibly important friend of hers. We rotate it through all our branches every week, just hoping that one day, her friend might see it."

"Right, so... here I am." Phoenix nodded, her tone incredibly matter-of-fact. "This ring is mine."

"Pfft—hahaha!" Cade burst into roaring laughter again. "You pretentious freak, have you completely lost your mind? You seriously claim this ring is yours?"

"Is there a problem?" Phoenix gave him a sidelong glance.

"Of course there's a problem! Not only is 'The Celestial' not for sale, but the production cost alone is over ten million! You? You think you're worthy of a top-tier collection piece like this?!" Cade pointed a finger at Phoenix, unleashing his maximum mockery. "Don't think having a little money makes you a big shot! I bet you're just acting crazy because you're scared Ms. Miller is going to throw you out, so you want to use this as an excuse to run!"

Phoenix helplessly rubbed her temples. "You idiot. You finally got out and you want to go back? Do you want me to hit you?"

"I just missed you so much."

Meredith was different from Macy Monroe.

She was Phoenix's cellmate in prison. Both women had been framed and thrown into a living hell. In their darkest days, they had clung to each other for survival and forged a bond sealed in blood.

"Ms. Miller, w-what is going on?!" Cade's brain practically short-circuited as he stared at the two women hugging. "How do you know this trash?!"

Meredith's eyes turned lethal. She spun around and delivered a brutal, resounding slap right across Cade's face!

Smack!

"Call my best friend trash again, and you're dead!!"

The slap was so violently crisp it completely stunned Cade. Beside him, Lydia looked like a chicken getting choked, too terrified to even make a sound.

Phoenix smirked. Did they really think women who had crawled out of hell would have pleasant tempers?