The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 130

Chapter 130

When Wendy spoke, her voice quivered with a chill.

Ordinary folks might have missed it, but Nova picked up on every little shiver that ran through Wendy, just from the way she gripped her hand.

To Nova, even the tiniest tremble in Wendy’s body seemed to echo straight into her through their joined

hands.

“You don’t truly want to leave, do you?”

Rather than responding to Wendy’s question, Nova turned it around with a certain, unequivocal answer.

Wendy’s eyes flickered, and for a moment she felt utterly transparent before Nova, as if she were an exposed porcelain doll with nowhere to hide.

Having her deepest thoughts so easily laid bare, Wendy blinked.

“If you really wanted to walk away, there are dozens of other ways you could’ve done it,” Nova stated, her voice unwavering.

“But instead, you just keep shutting everyone out, acting cold and distant.

“All you want is for him to notice you, isn’t that it?”

And by ‘him,‘ Nova meant Dean.

Nova’s voice rang out, sharp and uncompromising, leaving Wendy nowhere to hide–she was forced to face her deepest truth.

No matter how hard she tried, her true feelings always caught up to her in the end.

“Yes.”

She shut her eyes tight, as if hoping that would make it any easier to admit.

When she opened her eyes again, the dullness and sorrow that had filled them before had vanished.

She looked at Nova, and the lines that worry had drawn on her face seemed to soften, giving way to a rare, heartfelt honesty.

Facing Nova, who could see straight through her, Wendy found herself speaking even more frankly.

“I want to be the only one he loves,” Wendy confessed.

“I come from an ordinary family in Zoria. I grew up with a proper education, learned right from wrong, and always thought I’d stick to my own values and boundaries.

“But inside the Greslin family, everything I was taught to believe in–like monogamy–became a luxury I

couldn’t afford.

“My biggest mistake was falling for him.

“For his sake, I set aside my principles and kept crossing my own lines, over and over.

“I hate it all!

“I hate that his family forced him to marry someone else, and that before I even came into his life, he’d already had a kid with another woman…

“I hate myself for constantly bending my limits for him, for the fact that–even after everything–I still just want to breathe the same air as he does.

“In the end, I’ve turned into the very person I always swore I’d never become.”

To say Dean kept Wendy prisoner in that lighthouse doesn’t quite hit the mark.

The truth was, the shackles that really held her tight were forged by the darkness in her own heart.

Nova stayed silent, letting Wendy pour out her heart.

“Damien is my son.

“But first and foremost, he belongs to the Greslin family.”

As she spoke, Wendy gripped Nova’s hand even tighter–her hold almost desperate now.

“I can’t speak for anyone in the Greslin family, or side with their darkness–even if it’s my own son.

“Sweetheart, I don’t want you to fall too deep like I did.

“You’re still so young–there’s plenty of time. Leave him, and go find the happiness you truly deserve…”

Nova softly eased Wendy’s grip from her hands, gentle and unhurried.

She looked down at Wendy, her gaze mild yet assured.

Raising her eyes, with a touch of polite elegance and unmistakable composure, Nova met Wendy’s gaze head-

1. 1. on.

“Thank you for the reminder,” Nova replied.

“But this is the life I want–no matter what.”

Wendy blurted out, desperate.

“But…”

Nova cut her off before she could say another word.

“Sorry, but that naive, softhearted girl you imagine–that’s just not me.

“His life is soaked in blood, and mine is a battlefield strewn with bodies.

“He and I–we both belong in the same world.”

Wendy’s pupils suddenly contracted in disbelief.

She couldn’t wrap her head around it–Nova was a Zoriaien, and yet she looked just as innocent and unspoiled as Wendy herself had been years ago.

‘Still… could she really be part of the same world as Damien?‘ Vivian thought, doubt gnawing at her heart.

“Even so, you really need to think this through, sweetheart,” Wendy said in a low voice.

Every word she spoke was laced with her deep–seated anger at the Greslin family.

“Damien is part of the Greslin family–he’s destined to face whatever trials his family brings.

“Even if you two are truly from the same world, he’ll never be able to outrun the fate set by the Greslin family.

“Neither of you has the power to stand against them.

“And maybe one day, just like his father, he’ll be forced to marry someone he doesn’t even care about…”

This time, Wendy didn’t even get to finish her thought.

Nova jumped in before she could say another word.

“Are you his mother?” Nova asked flatly.

By “him,” she meant Damien.

Wendy froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard. “Yes…”

Nova didn’t back down. “Are you sure he’s your biological son?”

Wendy hesitated, confused about why Nova was asking. ‘Why is she even asking this?‘ Still, she answered softly, “Yes…”

Nova shifted to the side, her movements calm and purposeful.

Draped in a fiery crimson gown, she looked every bit like a devil born of the darkness.

With absolute chill in her bearing, she replied—

“His family–and even his own father–turned their backs on him.

“And his mother? She made him carry all her hatred for the family.

“To all of you, he’s just a tool, isn’t he?”

Nova let out a scornful chuckle, her eyes icy and commanding–like she owned the whole damn world by birthright.

Head held high, she made her claim, brazen and unapologetic-

“Fine. The tool you all threw away? He belongs to me now!

“His future? That’s mine, and mine alone!

“Not you, not the Geslin family, not anybody–no one gets to force him to do a damn thing he doesn’t want.

“And if anyone thinks they can try, even the so–called Greslin family? I’ll crush them–no sweat!“