Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 389

"N-nothing! I was just checking the time," the servant stammered, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He didn't dare look into Phoenix's eyes, terrified by the piercing stare that seemed to see right through his soul. "Miss Prescott, I'm innocent! I swear I didn't steal Ms. Miller's necklace!"

Phoenix lowered her eyes to the glowing screen, which was completely blank. She didn't argue. She simply tossed the phone up in her palm and announced to the crowd, "Starting right now, everyone hands over their phones. Anyone who resists will be treated as the mole."

With that, she exchanged a knowing glance with Cora.

Cora immediately understood, signaling the butler and the security team to step forward and confiscate the devices one by one.

While Cora distracted the crowd with intense questioning, completely commanding their attention, Phoenix slipped away like a ghost, moving swiftly toward the inner courtyard.

When she had toured the estate with Cora earlier, she had already pinpointed Meredith's location—the Miller Cellar.

The cellar was completely abandoned, typically used to store junk or handle the family's dirty work. Even the servants went out of their way to avoid it.

Phoenix approached the entrance with completely silent footsteps.

There were fresh scuff marks on the lock, and while the door was coated in a thick layer of dust, the metal handle had been wiped perfectly clean.

Knowing Mavis's vicious nature, there was zero chance she had just tossed Meredith in there alone. She had definitely planted a guard. If the person inside noticed anything suspicious, they would either relocate the hostage or... kill her on the spot.

A terrifying, lethal intent flashed in Phoenix's eyes.

She pulled out the master key Cora had slipped her earlier, held her breath, and carefully slid it into the lock.

A gentle twist.

The moment she heard the faint click, Phoenix didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second. She raised her leg and violently kicked the heavy metal door open!

The hinges shrieked. Under the flickering, dim light of the cellar, Phoenix moved like a bolt of black lightning, instantly locking onto the two silhouettes in the corner.

"Who's there?!"

The guard snapped up in shock as the door burst open.

He instinctively reached to grab Meredith, who was tied to a chair beside him. But before his fingers even grazed his target, his vision went completely black.

A pair of eyes, cold as glaciers, slammed into his line of sight.

A silver flash followed, fast as a phantom.

Phoenix struck with brutal precision, the dagger in her hand spinning as she flawlessly sliced open the man's carotid artery.

"It was disgusting, but I forced myself to swallow it because I had to stay alive to see you again."

She suddenly looked up, her red, swollen eyes filled with panic. "I heard the guard say Mavis was trying to steal Lumina Jewelry! Phoenix, that was the trump card I built specifically for you! Is the company still there? Did she take it?"

"It's still there, perfectly safe," Phoenix wiped the dirt from her cheek, letting out a soft laugh. "If she wants to swallow Lumina, she has to go through me first. I intercepted her plan before she could execute it. Right now, I am the ultimate authority at Lumina Jewelry."

Hearing this, the massive weight on Meredith's chest finally vanished, and she broke into a tearful smile. "I knew it! With you there, her toxic schemes would never work!"

"Alright, no more crying," Phoenix ruffled her messy hair, her gaze turning completely tender. "Everyone is waiting for you in the front courtyard. But before we go out there, let's go wash your face so Cora and your dad don't have a heart attack, okay?"

"Yeah! I'll do whatever you say!" Meredith nodded forcefully, wrapping her arms tight around Phoenix's waist, terrified that if she let go, she would wake up from a dream.

Before Phoenix kicked down that door, she truly believed she was going to die down there.

Who could have guessed she would be imprisoned in the cellar of her own home?

She had even resolved that if Mavis tried to use her as leverage against her grandfather and Phoenix, she would bite her own tongue and bleed out before becoming a burden to the people she loved most.

Thank God, her savior had carved through the darkness and dragged her out of hell.