Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 322

"Ah!"

Cassandra let out a sudden shriek.

"What the hell are you screaming for?!" Phoebe glared at her, her nerves already frayed.

Trembling, Cassandra shoved her phone toward Phoebe. "Phoebe, Phoenix is fighting back. What do we do?"

Phoebe snatched the phone, her eyes widening in sheer disbelief as she stared at the screen.

"How is this possible?! I have the original footage. There is no way it leaked!"

Yet, playing right in front of her was the unedited, crystal-clear video from the banquet. It captured every vicious insult Cassandra and Lydia had hurled at Phoenix.

The video wasn't chopped up or manipulated. It even included bold captions detailing the exact sequence of events.

Even though the audio was missing, the arrogant, aggressive body language of Cassandra and Lydia clearly depicted them instigating the conflict.

Phoebe frantically scrolled down to the comment section.

"Holy crap! What a plot twist! Cassandra and Lydia started the whole thing."

"There's no sound, but I can read lips. They were being absolutely vile, calling Phoenix a convict and a country bumpkin. Even their gift was an insult."

"I'd be pissed too. If someone provoked me like that, I would've snapped."

A wave of realization washed over the internet as netizens discovered they had been played.

Fueled by Ignis Global's aggressive PR strategy, public opinion fractured violently. One camp began tearing into Lydia and Cassandra, accusing them of playing the victim to maliciously slander Phoenix.

The other camp stubbornly claimed the video was a deepfake, manufactured by Phoenix to salvage her ruined reputation.

While the tide hadn't entirely turned, the sheer division was enough. Phoenix had achieved her goal.

"Why? How did this happen?!" Phoebe's face twisted into a mask of pure rage. "I still have the original file. How the hell did it get out?"

She knew for a fact that she had secured the video long before the smear campaign began. Phoenix never had the chance to export it.

Was there a mole?

Phoebe's predatory gaze swept over Cassandra and Lydia.

"It wasn't us!" the two girls cried in unison, shaking their heads frantically. "We have absolutely zero motive to do that!"

Phoebe knew they were right. These two idiots had no reason to betray her. But if it wasn't them, who was it?

A hacker?!

Phoebe had been so certain of her absolute victory. Now, Phoenix's ruthless retaliation had thrown the entire narrative into chaos.

"What the hell is Phoenix planning? Why didn't she drop this earlier? Why wait until now?" Phoebe muttered, her mind racing. If Phoenix had fought back immediately, she could have prevented the massive wave of hatred.

Doing it now was risky. People had already chosen sides, and many would refuse to admit they were wrong just to save face. It was damaging her own reputation.

Then it hit her. Phoebe's pupils constricted. Phoenix wasn't just clearing her name; she was deliberately filtering out the hypocrites and fair-weather allies.

Suddenly, a notification popped up. Phoenix had just posted a new video on her official account.

She sat directly facing the camera, her posture relaxed but commanding. Her gaze was predatory, exuding an authoritative, queen-like presence that commanded respect.

Despite the suffocating pressure of the last forty-eight hours, Phoenix looked utterly unfazed. The internet had tried to tear her apart, yet she appeared entirely untouched.

"I am posting this as a warning to those trying to drag me into the mud. Your actions will not destroy me. They will only accelerate your own demise."

"As for the truth behind the accident four years ago... I am very interested as well. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's livestream. I hope you put on a good show."

The video abruptly cut to black.

Phoebe sat frozen, an uncontrollable tremor wracking her body. Why did it feel like every single move they made was playing right into Phoenix's hands?