Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 286

"Phoebe, Phoenix's little reign of terror won't last much longer." Warren's eyes narrowed dangerously, a cruel sneer hooking the corner of his mouth. "Once her reputation goes up in flames and she loses everything, she'll be sent right back to that hellhole. Then, everything here will belong to us again."

Phoebe's eyes gleamed with anticipation, though she kept her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "Sigh, Phoenix is just so stubborn. All she had to do was lower her head and apologize to you both. Did it really have to come to this? I suppose she'll only realize her mistakes when she's locked back up in that place."

"You don't need to waste your pity on her, Phoebe. She's an ungrateful wretch who deserves to rot in the dirt." Warren's voice was utterly devoid of warmth, as if he were discussing a sworn enemy rather than his own flesh and blood.

Sitting beside them, Vanessa felt as though she were sitting on a bed of nails.

In the past, she never would have read into Phoebe's sweet words. But now, it was glaringly obvious. Phoebe was pretending to care about Phoenix's well-being, while every single syllable was maliciously designed to encourage Warren to push Phoenix off a cliff.

Vanessa felt a sickening wave of guilt as she realized she had fallen for this exact manipulation for years, harboring nothing but endless hatred and misunderstandings toward her biological daughter.

She recalled the early days when Phoenix first returned to the family. The poor girl had been so hypersensitive to everything around her, yet brimming with innocent curiosity. She had walked on eggshells, desperately trying to please everyone just to earn a scrap of validation.

Vanessa distinctly remembered a time when she had fallen ill with a severe cold. Phoenix had carefully brought her a bowl of freshly brewed ginger tea.

The tentative, deeply worried look on Phoenix's face still shattered Vanessa's heart.

But then, Phoebe had burst into the room with red, tear-filled eyes, claiming she was the one who had slaved over the stove to brew the tea. She said she had only stepped away to use the restroom, and when she returned, Phoenix was taking the tea to Vanessa.

Vanessa remembered exactly what Phoebe had said that day.

"Phoenix, I know that living my life as a wealthy heiress for a decade makes you resent me. But it wasn't my fault. I understand you're desperate to make Mom love you and fit into the family, but you can't steal the ginger tea I made and claim you did it!"

Phoebe had wept beautifully, her seemingly fragile words packed with vicious accusations.

"Mom, please don't be mad at her. Coming from the countryside, she must be so traumatized by living in poverty that she's desperate to prove herself and earn validation from you, Dad, and my brothers."

"Maybe... maybe I should just pack my bags and leave. I don't want to fight my sister for your love."

Back then, Vanessa had swallowed every word of that performance. She had screamed furiously at a completely bewildered, defenseless Phoenix.

Without giving her biological daughter a single second to explain, she had locked Phoenix in the dark room as punishment. Then, she had spent hours comforting Phoebe, showering her with money and priceless jewelry.

Looking back at it all now, Vanessa felt like an absolute clown.

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