Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 443

"Oh, Barrett, you're here too." Phoenix's gaze flickered, a perfectly feigned look of pleasant surprise lighting up her radiant complexion. "I thought you'd be hiding out in Cloudhaven, perfectly content being a loyal lapdog for the Quincy family."

"I really never expected to see the day this lapdog would be dragged on a leash all the way to the Sovereign Circle."

The words sounded like a polite greeting between old friends, but to everyone listening, they were laced with razor-sharp, merciless mockery.

Barrett narrowed his eyes, his fists clenching tightly beneath his sleeves, though he forced a stiff smile onto his face. "Ms. Prescott, you must be joking. Today is your welcome banquet; we can save the catching up for later. I actually prepared a small gift for you, and I insist you accept it."

He clapped his hands twice. Two heavily built security personnel immediately stepped forward, hauling a massive, heavy wooden crate into the center of the room.

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over the crate as a playful tone entered her voice. "Barrett, such a massive gift... I'm afraid I haven't done anything to deserve it."

"No, you absolutely deserve it," Barrett sneered darkly, snapping his fingers.

The two men stepped forward and instantly ripped the lid off the crate.

The moment the contents were revealed, a collective gasp echoed through the entire hall once again.

Inside the enormous crate was a living human being—a naked man, huddled into a ball and shivering violently.

Phoenix's pupils instantly contracted.

She immediately recognized the pathetic, trembling figure as Ian Prescott!

She remained silent, simply raising her eyes to lock a dead stare onto Barrett.

This was a blatant provocation.

Even though she had long severed ties with the Prescott family, blood was still blood.

By displaying Ian like an animal in front of everyone, Barrett wasn't just humiliating Ian; he was spitting in Phoenix's face and trampling on the dignity of the Prescott name.

Not far away, Isabella Sinclair gently swirled the red wine in her glass, the crimson liquid reflecting the dark amusement in her eyes.

Clearly, she thoroughly approved of this 'grand gift' Barrett had delivered.

She watched Phoenix with immense interest.

How exactly was this woman, currently riding so high, going to handle this?

Would she snap and curse him out like a street-corner lunatic, or would she swallow her pride and accept the humiliation? It seemed that no matter what she chose, Phoenix was destined to become the laughingstock of the entire Sovereign Circle tonight.

Inside the box, Ian seemed to finally adjust to the blinding lights and sluggishly lifted his head.

The moment he recognized Phoenix standing in front of him, his body jolted. Broken, desperate whimpers tore from his throat, as if he had just spotted his final lifeline.

Phoenix coldly ignored his plea for help. Her long legs carried her forward in purposeful strides.

Almost simultaneously, Pierce Sterling sensed her killing intent. His eyes turned colder than ice as he stepped forward, closing the distance toward Barrett.

Barrett's expression froze as a sudden, uncontrollable surge of panic rose in his chest.

His two bodyguards immediately moved to intercept, but Pierce lunged forward like a predatory cat.

How they fought behind closed doors was their business. His interference was now officially an act of war by an outside force against the entire Prescott family!

It was only then that Barrett truly realized how catastrophically wrong he had been. He had underestimated this woman's terrifying madness yet again.

The rules and expectations of high society couldn't bind her at all.

"Barrett, I think you're better off staying in that wheelchair. At least..." Phoenix slowly released her grip, a dangerously seductive smile curling her lips. "That way you won't go running around and being an eyesore."

"What... what are you trying to do?!" Barrett choked out, coughing violently as a fatal chill crept into his bones.

Before he could even process the threat, Pierce stepped forward, his face completely devoid of emotion. He lifted his leg and delivered a devastating, brutal kick straight into the back of Barrett's knee!

Crack—!

"Ahhhh!!!"

Accompanied by the sickening sound of shattering bone, Barrett let out a bloodcurdling scream as he collapsed heavily onto the floor in agony.

That single scream completely shattered the psychological defenses of every guest in the room.

In the dead silence, everyone stared at the domineering woman standing in the center of the hall, their eyes filled with nothing but absolute dread.

It was only now that they saw this new Highcrest elite for who she truly was.

She was no small-town nobody from Cloudhaven. She was a bloodthirsty force of nature, perfectly capable of turning all of Highcrest entirely upside down!