Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 318

"What?"

Macy and Yolanda exchanged bewildered looks, both seeing the pure shock mirrored in each other's eyes.

Phoebe's ruthless smear campaign had successfully driven the entire internet into a blind, rabid frenzy. The mob was so consumed by rage they had conveniently developed amnesia regarding Phoebe's own extensive history of lies. How could the timing not be right yet?

"Phoenix, does she really have another card to play?" Macy paced the room like a caged tiger.

Phoenix set her cup down, the sharp clink of porcelain echoing against the mahogany table. She leaned back effortlessly into her chair, her gaze piercing through the screen as if studying a pathetic, dancing clown.

"She does. She's holding onto her final trump card. If I launch my counterattack right now, it will spook her, and she won't dare to play it."

Phoenix's lips curved into a chilling, deeply entertained smirk. "She needs to feel completely invincible. She needs to believe she has successfully backed me into a corner with zero chance of escape. Only then will she be desperate enough to shove me over the edge."

Hearing this, a painful knot tightened in Macy's chest.

This meant they had to sit in agonizing silence and watch Phoebe prance around like a victorious brat, letting her dump toxic waste all over Phoenix's name without firing a single shot in defense.

"Macy, hold your ground. We've weathered worse storms than this. A few angry keyboard warriors aren't going to leave a scratch on me." Phoenix's voice was impossibly calm, acting as an anchor that instantly steadied the room.

"But..." Macy dropped her head, her nails digging half-moons into her palms. She could stomach taking the hit herself, but watching the world drag her best friend's name through the mud was driving her insane.

Nobody knew better than her just how incredible Phoenix truly was.

"Alright, let's get you a coffee to calm your nerves." Phoenix shot Yolanda a look.

Yolanda caught the signal immediately. "Ms. Monroe, I'll go brew you an espresso." With that, she quickly ducked out of the conference room.

Phoenix stood up, walking over to Macy and gently ruffling her hair. "I know it's hard to watch. But you have to understand—the best time to strike is when the enemy is blinded by their own arrogance. That's when you can guarantee a fatal blow."

"Besides, there's another crucial player in this hunting game who hasn't stepped onto the board yet."

Macy lifted her head, her red-rimmed eyes blinking in confusion. "Who?"

"Alistair."

Phoenix narrowed her eyes, a lethal frost freezing over her pupils.

Up until this exact second, the old man likely still held onto a microscopic shred of hope regarding her usefulness to the family. He would only rip off his hypocritical mask when he was absolutely certain his granddaughter was beyond saving.

And the second that old bastard officially crossed the line... the Prescott family's sinking ship would officially enter its final countdown to total annihilation.

It was a surgical strike of a question.

And it was the exact dilemma that had been keeping Arthur awake at night.

Arthur picked up the cup and took a slow sip, the bitterness coating his tongue. "Bleed with him? That would require flipping the entire Sterling Group upside down. The board veterans would be purged, and... I wouldn't even be able to protect my second son."

"Arthur, truth be told, we're in the exact same boat." Alistair set his teacup down with a sharp, echoing clack against the wood. "That girl, Phoenix, possesses terrifying potential. From the second she walked back into my house, she had Ian's entire family completely under her heel. And in every clash since, she's maneuvered with terrifying ease."

Alistair's tone grew raspy and dark. "But a blade that sharp is prone to snapping. She's backed herself into a lethal corner. If I force the issue and step in to shield her now, the entire Prescott Group, and the very foundation of my family, will be subjected to devastating collateral damage."

"Public fury is a monster. No matter how deep your pockets are, once you get sucked into that whirlpool, it will rip the flesh from your bones."

Hearing this, Arthur let out a bitter chuckle, his cloudy eyes swimming with helplessness. "It seems we're both standing at the edge of the cliff. Do we sacrifice the pawn to save the king, or... do we burn the board to the ground?"

"Mr. Prescott!"

At that exact moment, the butler rushed into the room in a blind panic, clutching a tablet like it was a live grenade, shattering the heavy silence.

"Why are you panicking?" Alistair barked, snatching the tablet. The screen displayed Phoebe's live stream.