Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 394

A greedy smirk curled on Mavis's lips. Her gaze swept contemptuously over Thaddeus before locking onto Phoenix's calm face.

"Fine, let's lay it all out. Thirty-five percent equity, plus—" she dragged out the word, "twenty percent of Ignis Global's dry shares, and absolute control over the Miller family's overseas channels."

Dead silence engulfed the conference room.

Both Thaddeus and Phoenix paused. They expected her to lower her demands after being called out, but instead, she doubled down, opening her jaws even wider to swallow them whole.

"Mavis, are you out of your mind, or is my hearing going bad?" Phoenix actually laughed, looking at her like she was an idiot. "Do you think anyone in their right mind would agree to terms that blatantly rob them blind?"

Mavis, however, remained entirely composed. She even arrogantly propped her long legs up onto the edge of the conference table.

She leaned back, a victorious, sinister smile spreading across her face. "You'll agree. Because I'm holding a bargaining chip you wouldn't dare refuse."

Phoenix and Thaddeus exchanged a rapid glance, a fleeting trace of mockery flashing in their eyes.

So Mavis was acting this arrogant because she thought she still had Meredith as her ultimate leverage. Too bad her entire scheme was destined to go up in smoke.

"Mavis, I don't think there's any point in continuing this so-called partnership," Phoenix said, leaning back and crossing her arms loosely. Her voice was flat, lacking any trace of emotion. "The door is right there. You can get the hell out."

"What did you say?!" Mavis froze, her brows pulling together tightly as she glared at Phoenix in disbelief. "Do you not understand what I mean by my bargaining chip?"

What was wrong with this woman? After making it this obvious, how could she still talk to her with such an attitude?

Phoenix smirked playfully. Mimicking Mavis's earlier posture, she casually propped her own long legs onto the edge of the table. "The trump card you're so proud of... isn't that Meredith?"

Mavis's eyes narrowed, her heart skipping a beat.

"Watching you act like such a pathetic coward makes me sick! I refuse to end up like you! That's why I'm carving out my own path. I'm going to take real power into my own hands!"

Years of repressed resentment poured out like a broken dam.

Perhaps it was the belief that she held the winning card that gave her the audacity to tear off her mask entirely.

"What is Meredith anyway? A naive idiot! Why should a failure like her be the rightful heir?" Mavis's voice was sharp as a blade, every word soaked in deep bitterness. "Since you were all too blind to see my worth and refused to give me a chance... fine. I'll take it myself!"

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, quietly observing the deranged woman. Right now, Mavis was a mirror image of Warren Prescott.

For a fleeting grasp at power, they were willing to twist themselves into ugly, psychotic monsters, fighting to the death to steal things that never belonged to them in the first place.

"Mavis, our family empire was built on your grandfather's blood and sweat. He is the sky above us and the anchor holding us steady," Thaddeus sighed deeply, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "I trust his judgment. Furthermore... you keep calling Merry an idiot, but in just one year, she built Lumina Jewelry into the powerhouse it is today. Who else in her generation has that kind of capability?"