Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 304

Phoenix glanced over, quietly studying the deeply scarred man standing beside her. “I'm not exactly great at comforting people, so I can only give you an outsider's perspective.”

“From Arthur's point of view, regardless of what Silas did, he's still his son. With his outdated views on preserving the family bloodline, how could he possibly send his own child to prison with his own two hands?”

“He probably convinced himself that the tragedy had already happened, and since he couldn't change the past, there was no point in throwing another son's life away.”

“Ha... Hahahaha!” Pierce let out a hollow laugh that sounded more agonizing than a sob. “Just because of blood? So that makes it okay to let his other 'blood' live in relentless pain and regret? That makes it okay for my mother to die for absolutely nothing?!”

Seeing Pierce's shattered smile, Phoenix felt a sudden, inexplicable pang in her chest. She involuntarily took a half-step closer and gently patted his back.

In the freezing night, that simple gesture spoke louder than a thousand words.

Pierce turned around. The moment he met Phoenix's eyes—which carried a rare flicker of sympathy—his emotional defenses completely crumbled.

The next second, he reached out and pulled Phoenix into a fierce, desperate embrace.

Phoenix stiffened, her instincts screaming at her to pull away, but she stopped the moment she heard his heavy, trembling whisper near her ear.

“Just let me... hold you.”

Phoenix let out a soft sigh, dropping her arms and allowing him to hold her.

It took a long time before Pierce reluctantly let go. The bloodshot redness in his eyes had faded slightly, and his chaotic emotions had settled into a calm resolve.

“So, what's your next move?” Phoenix asked casually.

A chilling glint flashed through Pierce's eyes. “Since Arthur chose Silas, then... it's time I make my decision and completely abandon the sinking ship that is the Sterling Group.”

Hearing this, Phoenix raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Now that sounds like the Reaper of Cloudhaven. I actually thought you were going to wallow in misery for a long time before bouncing back.”

“I'm not that fragile,” Pierce shook his head. His tone had returned to its usual icy detachment, yet it held a new layer of unshakeable determination. “Of course, I'm still human. But once I finish licking my wounds, I still have to keep moving forward.”

“Alright then, I wish you total victory.” Phoenix held up her hand, flashing him a confident smirk.

Pierce looked at her pale hand and raised his own, giving her a high-five.

The crisp smack echoed sharply into the silent night.

Four years ago, Phoenix was a pathetic outcast, begging on her knees for her family's affection. Four years later, she had been entirely reborn. In this world, only under that legendary woman's tutelage could a docile little lamb transform into a ravenous, predatory wolf.

...

That night, dangerous undercurrents surged through Cloudhaven, keeping countless people awake.

Pierce's sudden disappearance and the chaos at Elysian Manor hung over the city like the Sword of Damocles, keeping everyone on edge. But just as everyone braced for the storm, the next morning dawned with an eerie, perfect calm, as if the terrors of the previous night were a collective hallucination.

However, beneath that surface tranquility, a massive hurricane was ripping through the Sterling Group.

“Where is Pierce?! Why isn't he here?!”

“After the catastrophe last night, there's no way he wouldn't show up to take charge!”

Inside the top-floor boardroom of the Sterling Group, the atmosphere was suffocating.

Dozens of shareholders had gathered first thing in the morning, waiting in sheer panic. But as the minutes ticked by, the head chair remained empty. Quentin, his right-hand man, was nowhere to be found either. It was as if Pierce and his inner circle had completely evaporated overnight.