Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 250

That command entirely shattered Ian's final psychological defense.

He had climbed to the top of the A-list relying on his face. Even ruined and disgraced, he had clung to a sliver of hope—as long as he kept his looks, he could still latch onto the wealthy elite and survive.

But Penelope was about to permanently sever his only lifeline.

"No! You can't do this to me! Penelope, I love you! I'll do anything for you!"

Penelope watched him with cold detachment. "Then go to hell."

Before Ian could even process her words, an excruciating, tearing pain ripped across his face.

"Ahhhh!!"

His blood-curdling scream pierced the night sky, cementing the fact that this scumbag had officially plunged into the abyss, never to rise again.

In the shadows, Pierce stopped recording. With a tap of his finger, he sent the video directly to Phoenix.

[Just passing by. Thought you'd enjoy the show.]

Inside the VIP suite, Phoenix was deep in conversation with Nolan, analyzing the intricacies of the new sheet music. The sudden vibration of her phone broke the elegant atmosphere.

Tapping the video, she watched Ian being held down by thugs while his face was brutally slashed. The wounds were deep enough to show bone. Even when they healed, he would be left with hideous, terrifying scars.

Ian was officially ruined.

A flash of surprise crossed Phoenix's eyes. She hadn't expected the formerly lovestruck Penelope to be this ruthless once she finally woke up.

Of course, Phoenix didn't feel an ounce of pity. He brought every bit of this upon himself.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the screen as she replied:

[Are you sure you were just passing by, Pierce? Or did you come here specifically to watch?]

"Darling, I'm here to pick you up."

The message had barely been sent when the heavy doors of the suite swung open.

Phoenix looked up to see Pierce striding into the room. A faint smile played on his lips, but his tall frame radiated an icy, undeniable hostility.

And that hostility was aimed entirely at Nolan.

He had rushed over like a madman purely because he heard she was meeting 'a man', and the irrational jealousy burning in his chest had completely short-circuited his logic.

This sudden, uncontrollable possessiveness was starting to seriously irritate him.

"Well?" Phoenix raised an eyebrow when he didn't answer. "Don't tell me... you came here to check up on me?"

"Don't flatter yourself," Pierce scoffed, trying to mask his discomfort. "There was a massive incident here tonight. I just came to make sure the Sterling family's reputation wasn't dragged into your mess."

He paused, then added, "I am surprised you know someone like Nolan, though."

Phoenix rolled her eyes. "Worried I'll embarrass you? Relax. Our marriage will be over in a month anyway, so you won't have to worry about me anymore."

The careless remark acted like a needle, sliding cleanly into Pierce's chest and leaving a dull, unfamiliar ache in its wake.

"Our contract is for a year, Phoenix," Pierce said, his voice dropping an octave. "And I absolutely despise people who break their contracts."

Phoenix took a slow step forward until she was standing right in front of him. With both of them radiating equally intense auras, the air between them grew thick and suffocating as their eyes locked.

Standing by the door, Yancy frantically scratched his head. *Boss, do you have a death wish? You clearly care so much, so why does every word out of your mouth push her away?!*