Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 95

Ten minutes later.

Inside the master bedroom, Phoenix and Pierce were locked in a silent standoff.

Phoenix was currently curled up lazily in a single armchair, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes swirling with mischievous amusement. "I seriously suspect you set this up on purpose."

A sliver of ice crossed Pierce's gaze, his voice dropping a register. "You think I orchestrated this?"

"What else?" Phoenix sighed softly, throwing her hands up. "How convenient that Arthur drops by unannounced, insists on spending the night, and forces us into the exact same room."

Suddenly, her eyes danced with a sly, provocative glint. "But I guess I understand. After all, you've kept your distance from women for years. Now... you have a perfectly convenient wife right here. It's the perfect excuse to legally 'release' some tension."

"Phoenix Prescott!!"

Pierce snarled, his patience entirely shattered.

In a blur of motion, he closed the distance between them, his long fingers wrapping tightly around her slender neck.

"I am starting to regret doing business with you," the man ground out, his eyes churning with raw hostility.

Phoenix didn't show an ounce of fear. Instead, she met his gaze with absolute defiance. "Hey, we signed a contract in ink. You wouldn't want to breach it, would you?"

At this moment, Pierce looked like an enraged lion. All it would take was a fraction of pressure to snap the fragile neck in his grasp.

But he held back.

Phoenix seemed to thoroughly enjoy dancing on the razor's edge. Watching this man seethe with fury while being completely powerless to act against her put her in a fantastic mood.

Slap!

Phoenix raised her hand and cleanly swatted Pierce's grip away. "Enough. Let's talk solutions. What's the plan?"

Pierce took a deep breath, forcefully crushing the anger bubbling in his chest. His voice was frigid. "He follows a strict routine and will be asleep in an hour. Once he's out, you sneak out and take the guest room."

"Hm?" Phoenix blinked, the picture of innocence. "Why don't you take the guest room?"

"Because this is my house!!" Pierce's temple throbbed. What on earth was this woman's audacity made of?

"Oh, well, I changed my mind..." Phoenix stood up, walking straight toward the massive king-sized bed. She collapsed onto it sideways, getting comfortable. "Sleeping here is perfectly fine. Sharing a bed with a gorgeous man? That's a win for me."

"You!"

Pierce rubbed his forehead, a profound sense of helplessness washing over him.

He was a titan in the corporate world. Even the criminal underworld gave him wide berth. But going up against this woman was like punching cotton—there was zero impact.

He couldn't kill her. He couldn't beat her!

He hadn't found a fake wife; he had brought home an absolute menace.

"Yawn—" Phoenix stretched without a shred of elegance, rolling over and mumbling into the pillows. "Goodnight."

"!!!" Pierce stared at the figure on the bed in absolute disbelief. "Are you... not going to shower?"

"Too tired. Too lazy. I'll do it tomorrow," Phoenix waved a hand, entirely unapologetic.

And the result? Lance vanished, and his family was slaughtered.

Pierce's fingers flew across the keyboard: [Keep digging.]

[Quentin: Understood.]

Pierce narrowed his eyes, a murderous intent flashing within them.

It seemed his dear Uncle Silas had planted quite a few moles around him. His information network was terrifyingly fast.

He glanced at the sleeping Phoenix, then looked down and sent another order to Yancy.

Once everything was handled, Pierce stood up.

Judging by the time, Arthur should be dead to the world.

He walked softly to the door and slowly pulled it open—

The next second, Pierce froze.

In the dim living room, Arthur was lying in a rocking chair, positioned directly facing the master bedroom door. He was slowly thumbing a string of prayer beads, looking entirely alert and wide awake.

Expressionless, Pierce took a step back and quietly closed the door.

It looked like he was destined to spend the night in the master bedroom.