Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 442

"Oh? It seems Miss St. Claire is blindly confident in her own abilities." The mockery at the corner of Phoenix's lips instantly widened. Her gaze looked at Jade like she was watching a pathetic clown.

She stepped slightly to the side, yielding half the stage. "If that's the case, let's ask Maestro Nolan to offer his critique. We'll let him decide who the real clown is."

Jade's pupils contracted violently as her head snapped toward Nolan in the audience.

It wasn't until this exact moment that absolute, crushing panic completely consumed her.

How could she have forgotten there was an absolute authority, an international maestro, sitting right there!

As soon as Nolan opened his mouth, her pathetic scraps of pride and resistance would be ground into dust!

"Everyone, there is no need for my critique. You already know the truth in your hearts." Nolan let out a soft sigh, his gaze sweeping across the room. "I won't hide it from you. Ms. Prescott is an old friend of mine. Whenever I hit a creative wall in my music, I turn to her for guidance."

"If we are being honest, her musical mastery is absolutely on par with my own, if not beyond it."

The moment the words left his mouth, the crowd erupted. A wave of sharp gasps rippled across the banquet hall.

"It's STAR! She's the legendary STAR!"

"Unbelievable... How is this possible? The legendary genius STAR, the one Maestro Nolan holds in such high regard, is actually Ms. Prescott?! This is insane!"

"No wonder she said we weren't worthy earlier! If she's the STAR that even Nolan respects, of course she has the right to be arrogant!"

Jade stumbled, nearly collapsing to the floor.

STAR?! How could Phoenix be STAR?

That was the globally renowned pianist who had spent years as Nolan's intellectual equal!

Rumor had it she was incredibly low-key, never showing her face. People offered millions of dollars just for a chance to see her, and now...

She had just pointed a finger at this absolute legend and hurled insults at her?

"That's right." Nolan's firm, resonant voice brought the farce to an abrupt end. "Ms. Phoenix Prescott is STAR!"

The gavel had dropped; the victor was decided.

Jade's face was completely bloodless. Her body trembled uncontrollably as her lips quivered. "Impossible... This is absolutely impossible! How could she be STAR? This... this has to be a nightmare!"

She suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the cheek.

A stinging pain instantly spread, forcing tears into her eyes.

"Why aren't I waking up... Wake up!"

Duncan took a deep breath, forcing down the bitter taste of rage in his throat.

It was only now that he fully realized the truth. Coming from a small city like Cloudhaven didn't mean she was a nobody; she was an apex predator who had been biding her time.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The sharp sound of applause cut through the tension. Barrett Lowery wheeled himself forward, his tone dripping with mock admiration. "Ms. Prescott, what a spectacular move. After a display like this, I suppose the St. Claire family will answer only to you from now on."

"You managed to finish what Yara couldn't bear to do back then. Not bad at all! Truly brilliant! You are, without a doubt, the sharpest blade in her arsenal."

Barrett's words, disguised as praise, were expertly calculated to stroke the sensitive nerves of every elite in the room.

The guests exchanged uneasy glances, a new layer of caution and dread settling over their features.

Initially, they hadn't taken this parachuted successor seriously, considering she wasn't Yara herself.

But now, they realized this woman's edge was far colder and sharper than they had ever imagined.

She wasn't some soft target. She was a vicious, overpassing dragon tearing into Highcrest, carving a bloody path for Yara's return!

Perhaps... the era where the St. Claires completely dominated the city was about to repeat itself in her hands.