Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 91

Phoenix Prescott repeatedly combed through Silas Sterling's social network, only to find it unnaturally clean.

"If Zora Quinn hadn't confessed that the mastermind behind the scenes wielded immense power, I never would have connected this to the Sterling family. But looking at the aftermath, Silas was undeniably the biggest beneficiary." Phoenix rested her chin on her interlaced fingers, her gaze deepening.

"Ugh, if it wasn't to sharpen Pierce into a deadlier blade, I really wouldn't want to wade into this mess."

She rubbed her temples and looked back at the screen, her eyes suddenly locking onto a specific name—Sully Yates.

"Wait!"

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, pulling up Sully's detailed file.

"Sully Yates, officially Silas's driver, handled his daily commutes four years ago. Yet, shortly after the car crash, he 'died in the line of duty'..."

It was too convenient.

When coincidences pile up, they become inevitabilities.

Phoenix seized the fleeting spark of intuition, following Sully's trail and systematically shattering layers of encrypted firewalls.

Finally, she found a loophole in the flow of funds following Sully's death—a man named "Lance Yates" had appeared out of nowhere in his network.

If she didn't possess top-tier hacking skills to dig this deep, this ghost-like existence would have remained buried forever.

Phoenix let out a soft breath, her fingers dancing across the keys as she swiftly erased her intrusion tracks before snapping her laptop shut.

As for the connection between Lance and Sully, or whether the secrets hidden behind it could become the weapon to incriminate Silas, that was no longer her concern.

She would leave the rest for Pierce to stress over.

Glancing at the time, twilight was gathering. It was time to head to their so-called "marital home."

The mere thought of it sent a chill down her spine.

Who would have guessed she would actually end up living under the same roof as the terrifying Reaper of Cloudhaven?

Ding—

The screen lit up, a short notification sound shattering the silence.

She expected a reply from Meredith Miller, but the sender was Pierce.

Pierce: "I'm here."

Phoenix: "Do you have a lot of free time, Mr. Sterling?"

Pierce: "Come out."

The words exuded an unquestionable, cold hardness. Not a single unnecessary syllable was wasted, bluntly shutting down any chance for Phoenix to tease him.

Phoenix scoffed, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out of the room.

The house was quiet. Vanessa and Julian were likely at the hospital, and Warren was busy with social engagements.

"Lawrence, I need to go out for a while. However, the second floor remains completely off-limits. I expect no one to set foot up there."

"Yes, Ms. Prescott. I will make sure of it." Lawrence bowed slightly, his submissive posture identical to how he treated the head of the household.

Outside the villa, a black Maybach sat parked like a dormant beast.

But Phoenix deliberately poured gasoline on the fire.

She reached out, her fingertips provocatively tilting Pierce's chin up. Biting her lower lip, she flashed a wicked smile. "Actually, I wouldn't mind taking this marital relationship a little... deeper... What do you say, husband?"

Pierce's pupils contracted. He abruptly seized her wrist and pinned her forcefully against the back of the seat.

"Phoenix, you are playing with fire."

Instead of being afraid, Phoenix let out a brazen, wild laugh. "I bet you wouldn't dare touch me."

"Oh, really?" Pierce's eyes narrowed, a dangerous, soul-crushing aura instantly enveloping them. "I despise being provoked."

"Is that so?"

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, and catching him off guard, she tilted her head up and accurately captured those thin lips with her own.

Pierce's eyes widened in shock.

A familiar scent washed over him. The moment their lips met, it felt like an electric current surged through his veins, sending a numbing sensation radiating across his entire body.

The third time!

This damn woman had forcefully kissed him for the third time!

They broke apart.

Phoenix looked at him, her eyes practically sparkling with unsatisfied mischief. "How about that? What are you going to do about it?"