Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 82

"Phoebe, this is..." One of the maids tried to explain that Lawrence had specifically ordered these to be sent to Phoenix's room.

"I know!" Phoebe interrupted impatiently, not giving the maid a chance to finish. She waved her hand dismissively. "I'll talk to Dad and Julian when they get back. Just take them up."

The maid looked at Phoebe's determined expression and wondered if these were perhaps an apology gift from Phoenix to Phoebe.

"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and take them inside!" Phoebe snapped coldly, startling the maid into a shiver.

"...Yes, Phoebe."

The maid grabbed the bags and turned toward Phoebe's room.

Ten minutes later, a black sedan slowly pulled through the carved gates of Prescott Manor.

As soon as the car came to a halt, Phoenix pushed the door open and stepped out. Her indifferent gaze swept over Harrison in the driver's seat. "Harrison, remember this. From now on, this car is solely at my disposal. Without my nod, no one else gets in. Understood?"

Harrison's spine stiffened, and he quickly bowed. "Yes, Ms. Prescott. I am at your service alone."

"You're dismissed." Phoenix gave a slight nod and strode toward the main house.

"Ms. Prescott!"

The maids she passed along the way all lowered their heads, greeting her with deep respect, hardly daring to breathe.

In the past, they might have looked down on this 'rightful heiress' who had just gotten out of prison. But ever since witnessing her whip Warren, slap Phoebe, and gain the direct backing of Old Mr. Alistair, everyone realized one undeniable truth—in the Prescott family today, this young woman wielded tremendous power.

Even though Warren held the title of the family head, under the patriarch's overwhelming presence, he was nothing more than a figurehead.

Phoenix stepped into the grand hall and got straight to the point. "Lawrence, where is my jewelry?"

Lawrence hurried forward, bowing deeply. "Ms. Prescott, I've already had it sent to your room."

Phoenix said nothing more and headed straight up to the second floor.

However, when she pushed open her door, she was greeted by completely empty tabletops.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. She turned and walked back out, her voice coated in a layer of frost. "Lawrence, if you want to quit, you can just say so. There's nothing in my room, and this is what you call 'delivered'?"

Lawrence's face instantly went deathly pale. He whipped his head toward the maid standing nearby and barked, "Didn't I tell you to take those things to Ms. Prescott's room?!"

"I... I was going to..." The maid trembled violently, stammering. "B-but Phoebe told me to take them to her room..."

Lawrence's heart plummeted. He knew they were doomed.

"Hmm?" Phoenix's tone lifted dangerously, her gaze sharp as a blade.

Phoebe trembled, feeling as if she had been plunged into an ice cave, and instinctively took a half-step back. "Phoenix... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have stolen Mom and Dad's love from you. But these... these were given to me by Dad and Julian. You can't just take them..." She bit her lip, putting on an agonizingly pitiful expression. "Of course, if you really like them, you can pick one piece, and we'll just say it's a gift from me."

"I can't take them? A gift from you?" Phoenix looked as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world, the dangerous glint in her eyes intensifying.

Phoebe's heart raced wildly as she desperately shielded the jewelry boxes behind her.

"What are you two arguing about?!"

Vanessa rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Phoenix blocking the doorway with a hostile expression, her nerves instantly tightened.

"Mom—" Phoebe acted as if she had just seen her savior, throwing herself into Vanessa's arms like a frightened bird, her eyes instantly turning red. "Am I being too greedy? Dad and Julian bought me these gifts, but Phoenix is trying to take them from me..."

"What?!" Vanessa flew into a rage, pointing her finger right at Phoenix's nose. "Phoenix! If you want something, can't you buy it yourself?! Have you lost your mind the second you got out of prison? Why do you always have to steal Phoebe's things?!"

Phoenix looked at the mother-daughter duo and laughed out of sheer anger. "Vanessa, slapping a label on someone without asking a single question—is this what you call good breeding?"

"Breeding?" Vanessa sneered, her eyes full of contempt. "Do I need to ask a convicted felon like you if you're trying to steal Phoebe's things? A leopard never changes its spots!"

Phoenix's gaze turned glacial, her smile vanishing in an instant. "Vanessa, you seem to have forgotten exactly how I ended up in there four years ago. Do you need me to help refresh your memory?"