Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 382

"Butler, bring the car around!" Mavis barked, pressing the blade deeper against Thaddeus's throat.

The butler hesitated, terrified of endangering the patriarch, and quickly ordered a driver to pull a sedan up beside her.

Mavis dragged Thaddeus into the back seat, slamming the doors shut to lock them. But the moment the engine roared to life, she viciously kicked Thaddeus out of the vehicle.

Thaddeus tumbled wildly across the rough pavement, scraping his skin before finally rolling to a stop.

He scrambled up, covered in dirt, and roared in a fit of rage. "Stop her! Don't let that treacherous turncoat escape!"

"Mr. Miller, don't bother," Phoenix stepped forward smoothly, cutting off his command.

"Why?!" Thaddeus's eyes were bloodshot, fury boiling in his chest. As the dignified head of the Miller family, being held hostage by his own daughter was an utter humiliation. If this got out, the family's century-old reputation would be ruined.

Watching the taillights of the speeding sedan fade into the night, Phoenix flashed a faint, icy smile. "If she dared to take such a massive gamble, she definitely has another card up her sleeve."

Thaddeus's expression shifted drastically as a name immediately popped into his head—Meredith.

His gaze darkened. "Phoenix, judging by your confidence, have you already found Merry?"

Phoenix didn't give a straight answer, merely exchanging a knowing look with Pierce.

Pierce understood instantly. He raised a hand, signaling his bodyguards to stand down, and the chaotic courtyard fell into an eerie silence.

"Mr. Miller, please summon Mr. Gideon Miller and all the core family members back to the estate," Phoenix's voice was cool, yet carried an undeniable weight. "Tonight's events are far more complicated than they appear."

Thaddeus studied Phoenix's face for a long moment before nodding heavily. "I'll make the arrangements immediately."

The seemingly delicate woman standing before him was the same ruthless executioner who had single-handedly brought down the Prescott Family. Since she was making this request, she must have absolute certainty. Otherwise, she wouldn't ask him to mobilize the entire family.

On the other side of town, Mavis tore through the streets in the sedan.

She kept her eyes glued to the rearview mirror, fully expecting a massive pursuit from the Miller family. Yet as she sped through the night, not a single pair of headlights followed her.

"Cowards," Mavis scoffed, a hint of frustration flashing in her eyes. "I was hoping you'd chase me so I could lead you right into an ambush."

Mavis pushed the door open and immediately spotted the man sitting in the wheelchair. With his back to her, he was looking out the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, staring down at the neon lights of Cloudhaven like a king surveying his domain.

"Mavis, you exposed yourself as a chess piece far too early," the man's voice was like a blade forged in ice, carrying a bone-chilling cold. The wheelchair slowly spun around, revealing a brooding yet strikingly handsome face.

Mavis let out a long sigh, kicking off her heels without a care, and slumped lazily into the plush leather sofa.

"What else was I supposed to do? Phoenix holds fifty-one percent of Lumina Jewelry. With that woman's sharp instincts, it was only a matter of time before she traced everything back to me. Making it out of there in one piece is already a miracle."

She cast a sideways glance at the man in the wheelchair, a testing note in her voice. "What about you, Barrett? How long do you plan on hiding? With the private army you've built up, swallowing Cloudhaven whole shouldn't be hard at all."

Barrett Lowery gave a noncommittal smirk, taking his time to clip and light a cigar.

Through the swirling blue smoke, his gaze grew murky. "I play the role of the crippled heir in the Lowery family, letting people trample over me, just to be a perfect observer."

He raised the hand holding the cigar, pointing toward the ceiling with a loaded meaning. "The real puppet masters are up there, watching the board."

"Everything I'm doing now is just laying the groundwork. With the Prescott family falling apart, Cloudhaven is a city without a ruler. It's the perfect time to scoop up all the stragglers and build my empire."