Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 344

Warren's psychological defenses completely crumbled.

He never dreamed that after living half his life in absolute arrogance, he would eventually have to break his final shred of pride in front of a daughter he had treated like dirt. The utter humiliation of having his dignity ground underfoot was worse than death.

"My patience is wearing thin." Phoenix toyed with the tea strainer, her tone airy. "If you care so much about your pride, you can get out right now. I have a meeting at Ignis Global shortly to discuss the acquisition of the Prescott Group with the team."

The moment she said that, Warren's face turned completely ashen. He shuddered violently, biting his tongue until he tasted blood just to force out the words: "Fine... I'll do it!"

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, calmly gesturing toward the floor. Her nonchalant movement felt like the sharpest blade slicing away the last of Warren's self-respect.

"Don't do it!"

Just as his resolve shattered and he was about to yield, the tea room door flew open.

Vanessa stumbled into the room, screaming hysterically. "Phoenix! He is your biological father! How could you force him to grovel?! This is monstrous! You're going to suffer retribution for this!"

Phoenix narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing through them. She had planned to deal with Vanessa after finishing off Warren, but the woman had delivered herself right to the slaughter.

"Vanessa, things have already reached this point, and you're still defending this man to the bitter end. What a touching display of marital devotion," Phoenix sneered.

"Phoenix, we failed you..." Vanessa's eyes were red, her voice trembling. "We can make it up to you! We'll give you money, shares, anything you want! But humiliating himself like this is unacceptable!"

She pleaded bitterly, playing the part of a loving mother entirely devoted to her daughter. "If word of this gets out, what will the people in our circle think of you? They'll call you cold, unfilial, and disrespectful! Do you really want to be cursed behind your back for the rest of your life?"

Warren looked at Vanessa in shock.

Ever since the family fell apart, they had grown completely estranged. He never expected her to step up and defend the family's honor in a life-or-death moment like this. At least when it came to preserving the Prescott name, she was still a proper matriarch.

"Phoenix! Why are you so incredibly stubborn?!" Vanessa's voice shrilled with agitation. "I've spelled it out for you perfectly clearly! Forcing your biological parents to grovel is taboo!"

"That only applies if you actually act like parents." Phoenix dropped her smile, a dark hostility swirling in her eyes. "Enough talking. Submit, or get out!"

"I... I'll do it!" Vanessa trembled violently, whether from anger or grievance. She bit her lip hard, looking like a martyr marching to the gallows. "But I'll do it for your father! I'll take the humiliation!"

She turned to Warren, her eyes filled with profound righteousness. "You are the head of the family. Your pride represents the last shred of the Prescott family's dignity. You absolutely cannot yield!"

Warren's heart lurched. Tears pricked his eyes, and he grabbed Vanessa's hand tightly. "Honey... thank you. Thank you for protecting me right now. I treated you so horribly before; I'm practically a monster!"

"Don't say that." Vanessa shook her head tearfully, offering a sad smile. "Now that Phoebe has been locked away, as long as our family of three stays together, everything... can still be fixed."

Watching this toxic pair act out their 'true love in times of hardship' routine right in front of her made Phoenix utterly sick to her stomach.