Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 396

"Tap. Tap." Phoenix rapped her knuckles lightly against the table, finalizing the verdict. "You've lost completely, Mavis. Now, I dictate the terms. If The Osborne Family wants to establish themselves in Cloudhaven, fine. But from today onward, they play by my rules."

Mavis bit her lower lip hard. She took a deep breath, wiped her face, and clung to the last shred of her dignity. "Your rules. Fine. I concede this round. But mark my words, this isn't over!"

She abruptly stood up, glaring viciously at everyone in the room. She shot a look at her bodyguards and marched toward the door without looking back.

Seeing Mavis trying to leave, Thaddeus instinctively moved to detain her, but a freezing glare from Phoenix nailed him to the floor.

Once Mavis was gone, Thaddeus forced down his anger and asked bitterly, "Miss Prescott, why did you stop me from holding her? No matter what, she's a traitor to the family. She needs to be punished by our rules!"

Phoenix withdrew her gaze and shot him a flat look. "Today, Mavis represents The Osborne Family. If you touch her here, you're practically handing them an excuse to launch a full-scale war against you."

"She's nothing but a disposable pawn they're using to test the waters. But to secure a piece of Cloudhaven's wealth, The Osborne Family will use any excuse necessary."

Thaddeus clenched his fists, his chest rising and falling heavily.

A deep sense of frustration choked him. He was the head of the family, yet he was completely suppressed by Phoenix at every turn. Now, even his own daughter, Meredith, wasn't showing him an ounce of mercy.

But what could he do?

As long as he wanted to protect his family's century-old legacy, he had to admit that Phoenix's reasoning was flawless.

"Phoenix, what do we do next?" Meredith stepped forward, unable to hide the worry in her eyes. "The Osborne Family just took a massive hit. They definitely won't let this go."

"It's fine. A strong dragon can't easily crush a local snake. If they want to put down roots in Cloudhaven, they wouldn't dare make a reckless move right now," Phoenix analyzed smoothly. "In two days, there will be a major business summit in the city. The Osbornes will definitely attend, using the guise of seeking partnerships to find a new, heavy-hitting stepping stone."

"Merry, your immediate priority is to return to Lumina Jewelry and take charge." Phoenix patted her shoulder earnestly. "During the few days you were missing, the company has been unstable. Those old foxes are probably getting restless. You need to show up and stabilize morale."

"I understand." Meredith nodded firmly, an unbreakable resolve shining in her eyes. "I won't let you down. One day, I'm going to build Lumina Jewelry into a true multinational giant. And when that day comes... it will be your ultimate backup!"

Phoenix's expression softened into a radiant smile, and she gave a gentle nod.

Standing nearby, Thaddeus watched the life-and-death bond between the two women, a storm raging in his heart.

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