Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 258

“I'm just a hypocrite like that.” Phoenix took a deep breath, forcing down the rapid flutter in her chest as she spoke coldly. “I'm the only one allowed to mess with you. You don't get to mess with me. Otherwise... you'll face the consequences.”

“Heh, points for honesty.” Watching her bristle like an angry cat, the sting of her rejection completely vanished, replaced by an inexplicable sense of delight.

As long as she wasn't entirely indifferent to him, that was enough.

...

Inside the bathroom, steam filled the air.

Phoenix grabbed a roll of plastic wrap and meticulously wrapped it around Pierce's waist, sealing the wound tight so it wouldn't get wet.

With his shirt gone, the sheer impact of his physique was fully exposed.

He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his muscles sleek, tight, and carved with explosive power. It wasn't the exaggerated, bulky look of a gym junkie, but a perfect, primal edge of raw strength.

Paired with his sinfully handsome face, in the misty haze of the bathroom, the sexual tension between them skyrocketed.

Even though Phoenix prided herself on having a heart of stone, her eyes lingered on his abs for just a fraction of a second too long, and she unconsciously swallowed.

“What? Haven't seen enough?”

Pierce caught her stare immediately. He took a step forward, backing Phoenix up against the edge of the vanity counter.

“Phoenix, you seem incredibly interested in my body.” His voice was low and gravelly, practically a hook pulling her in. “Want to touch?”

“Get out of here!” Phoenix whipped her head away and reached for a towel, the tips of her ears flushing a faint pink.

“Liar.” Pierce chuckled softly. He suddenly grabbed her wrist and flattened her palm directly against the hard planes of his abs. “Since you saved my life tonight, letting you cop a feel is the least I can do.”

The skin under her hand was burning hot and rock-solid, rising and falling smoothly with his every breath.

Phoenix's eyes widened, and she snatched her hand back as if she had been burned.

“Psycho!”

Seeing her look so flustered while desperately trying to maintain her composure only deepened the smirk in Pierce's eyes.

Just then, a harsh ringtone sliced through the suffocatingly intimate atmosphere in the room.

Pierce frowned, his eyes snapping in annoyance toward his phone resting on the counter.

The screen lit up with the name “Yancy.”

“Answer it.” Phoenix picked up the phone and handed it to him, taking the opportunity to step back and put some much-needed distance between them.

Pierce accepted the call, his tone completely hostile. “Speak!”

“Beep—”

It only rang once before it was frantically answered.

“Mr. Sterling! Mr. Sterling, thank God you finally picked up!”

Warren's voice was frantic, trembling, and entirely choked with panic. Even through the speaker, they could easily picture him drenched in a cold sweat, groveling on his knees.

“Mr. Sterling, it's a total misunderstanding! A massive misunderstanding! I swear on my life I had no idea you were in that car! If I knew you were escorting Phoenix, I wouldn't have dared order a hit, even if I had a death wish!”

Sitting on the edge of the tub, a dangerously mocking smile curled onto Phoenix's lips.

Just as she suspected. Warren thought the relentless attack on his company was all because Pierce was furious about getting caught in the crossfire.

Leaning against the counter, Pierce's voice dropped to a freezing temperature. “You make it sound so simple, Warren. If you have the guts to pull off a highway assassination, you should have the spine to face the consequences. What's the matter? Scared now?”

“I am! I'm terrified!” Warren practically sobbed through the phone, desperately playing the family card. “Mr. Sterling, we're family! Why would I ever target you? I... I just wasn't thinking straight! I only wanted to discipline my disobedient daughter! I never meant for it to spiral into such a horrifying misunderstanding!”

A flash of pure disgust crossed Pierce's eyes.

He had hired a hit squad to murder someone, yet he spun it so effortlessly into 'disciplining his daughter.'

The old bastard had absolutely no shame.