Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 184

"Hah, Ms. Miller, could your so-called capability be that tiny Lumina Jewelry?" Someone scoffed. "It may be showing signs of life, but compared to the Miller family's massive business empire, it's child's play."

"The Miller family's industries are deeply intertwined. You can't run them on sheer passion alone."

"In my opinion, Milo is familiar with the business, steady, and capable. He's a much better candidate."

The wave of doubt surged forward, threatening to completely drown the newly returned girl.

The protests grew deafening, drowning out even the authority of Gideon, the family patriarch.

In everyone's eyes, a massive empire like the Miller family absolutely could not be handed over to a wet-behind-the-ears girl.

*Clap, clap, clap.*

A round of applause suddenly broke out.

The rhythm was unhurried but piercing, violently forcing the boiling banquet hall into a dead silence.

The crowd followed the sound, only to see Phoenix tilt her head back, draining her glass of red wine. A mocking smirk curled on her lips as she stepped forward at a leisurely pace.

"Every single one of you, are you trying to bully my Merry because you think she has no one backing her?"

Phoenix strode in blood-red heels, every step seemingly stomping on the crowd's nerves. She walked to Meredith's side, turned proudly, and fixed them with a blazing stare. "Let me tell you something. It wasn't the Miller family that chose Merry. It was Merry who chose the Miller family."

"Today, standing here as her friend, I'm putting it out there—the heir to the Miller family can only be Meredith Miller."

As soon as she spoke, the hall erupted.

"You're just a Prescott. What right do you have to bark orders here? Don't forget, you're just a half-baked heiress recently dragged back to your family."

"Hah, the Prescotts just humiliated themselves, and you dare to run your mouth here?"

Ridicule flew from all sides, but Phoenix's expression didn't waver. Only a chilling glint slashed through her eyes.

"Come in."

The heavy doors of the banquet hall crashed open.

Leo Vance, having waited outside for quite some time, led the charge. A massive sea of men flooded in behind him, instantly securing every choke point in the hall.

Recognizing the incoming leader as Leo, the crowd collectively gasped—why was this absolute terror here?

"Boss."

Leo Vance led the members of The Obsidian Syndicate. Moving in perfect unison, they bowed respectfully to Phoenix.

The overwhelming presence and deafening shout sent a wave of lethal aura that instantly paralyzed everyone present.

"I, Phoenix Prescott, in the name of the head of The Obsidian Syndicate and the true heiress of the Prescott family, stand behind Meredith Miller. Who dares object?"

"Who dares object?"

Following Phoenix's sharp command, the entirety of The Obsidian Syndicate roared in unison, the sound wave practically blowing the roof off.

A cold, deep voice broke the dead silence like shattered jade dropping into a still lake.

Pierce Sterling strolled toward Phoenix with his hands in his pockets, yet the aura radiating from him was suffocatingly cold. "I believe I just heard someone questioning my wife."

Seeing the legendary Reaper, the crowd involuntarily shivered. Those who had mocked them earlier were sweating profusely, their legs turning to jelly.

It suddenly dawned on them that Phoenix and this terrifying man were legally married.

"Who was it?" Pierce narrowed his predatory eyes, his gaze slicing through the room like a blade. Casually, he raised a long finger and pointed at one person.

"Was it you?"

The man looked horrified, shaking his head frantically, practically dropping to his knees.

"Or was it you?"

His finger shifted slightly, pointing to someone else.

Wherever his fingertip swept, people felt the hair on their necks stand up, as if Death himself was calling roll.

"If Pierce Sterling's woman doesn't have the qualifications to stand here and back her friend... then do I have the qualifications?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it battered against everyone's minds like heavy war drums.

No one had expected Meredith to have such an untouchable deity standing behind her. Putting the other factions aside, Pierce alone was enough to crush the entire room. No one dared breathe a single word of dissent.