Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 198

Phoenix glanced over her shoulder and saw Sebastian walking toward them, Phoebe right beside him.

The moment Sebastian appeared, the surrounding socialites and wealthy wives locked onto him as if he were a rare gemstone.

"Sebastian, when the pieces are unveiled, please give me the chance to purchase your debut piece!" one of the women practically begged, shoving her way to the front.

"Mrs. Lowery, you're dreaming. We've all been waiting for his debut collection. Why should you get priority?" another woman shot back with a sneer.

Listening to these women fight over his work gave Sebastian an overwhelming sense of smug satisfaction.

"Why? Because the Liang family is about to be tied to the Prescotts by marriage, of course!" Mrs. Lowery lifted her chin. The statement dropped like a bomb, instantly sending shockwaves through the crowd.

Everyone gasped. The Prescott Family was marrying into the Liang family? That was completely absurd.

The Liangs were a fringe family at best, and their eldest son was a notorious cripple. Why would the Prescotts ever agree to that?

But looking at Mrs. Lowery's absolute confidence, the deal seemed to be set in stone.

As the intended bride, Phoebe's face instantly turned ashen. She mentally cursed Mrs. Lowery for being a brainless idiot. Announcing this in public was a direct slap to the face for both her and the Prescott Family!

Just as the awkward tension peaked, Phoenix seamlessly stepped in. "Mrs. Lowery is absolutely right. This is the perfect opportunity for you to bond with your future daughter-in-law."

Mrs. Lowery's eyes lit up. She looked at Phoenix in confusion. "And you are...?"

"I am the eldest daughter of the Prescott Family, Phoenix." Phoenix flashed an elegant smile before shifting her gaze to a furious Phoebe. Her tone was light and conversational. "And this... is your future daughter-in-law, Phoebe. She is our family's most beloved... adopted daughter."

The words struck like a physical blow across Phoebe's face. The triumphant smile on Mrs. Lowery's lips froze instantly.

Mrs. Lowery had only heard that her family was securing a marriage with the Prescotts. She naturally assumed it was the true heiress. But to discover they were palming off an adopted daughter on her son? Didn't that make the Liang family a total laughingstock?

The Prescotts might not care about bloodlines, but to these elite circles, blood was everything. Passing off an adopted daughter, even to a disabled son from a lesser family, meant she was the one marrying up!

Mrs. Lowery's expression turned incredibly dark, but with so many eyes on her, she forced a stiff, unnatural smile.

"Phoenix, I know you use underhanded tactics. Phoebe was only forced into this engagement with that disabled trash because of you." Sebastian turned around and closed the distance, glaring at Phoenix with daggers in his eyes. "But let me make this clear. No matter what kind of sick games you play, you will never even be worth a single strand of Phoebe's hair."

Phoenix's lips curled up slightly, but her eyes were entirely dead, looking at him as though he were a clown performing a cheap trick. "Apologies, but to me, you're equally worthless. So—why would I ever care what you think?"

Her absolute dismissal struck a nerve, shattering Sebastian's ego. His pupils contracted as rage flared in his chest. "I know Lumina Jewelry belongs to your little friend here. But it's too bad. Today, she's destined to be nothing more than a stepping stone for me."

"Don't be so sure. Who knows... you might be the one leaving as the biggest joke of the day." Phoenix shrugged. Her effortless, unbothered attitude was driving Sebastian insane.

She was a country bumpkin with a criminal record! What gave her the right to act so high and mighty in front of him?

If she hadn't gotten lucky and seduced that psychopath Pierce, she wouldn't even be fit to shine Phoebe's shoes!

Sebastian took a deep breath, forcing down his blazing anger. He'd let her run her mouth for a few more minutes. Once the expo officially started, he was going to grind this bitch and her friend straight into the dirt.

"Oh, by the way, I heard you're a student of Master Padraig?" Phoenix suddenly changed the subject.