The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143

When Nova said “kill,” she meant it literally.

She said it in a lazy, playful tone, but if you knew her, you’d know she wasn’t messing around.

With her battlefield mentality, if she ever set foot in the ruthless world of showbiz, she wouldn’t waste a single word.

She’d go straight for the kill.

That was her true nature.

So, to prevent that from happening, she’d never set foot in the entertainment industry herself.

Besides.

Before she ended up in Devil’s Isle, Nova actually had some ties to the entertainment industry.

For example, back in her mercenary days, she’d taken on plenty of jobs for top celebrities–right in the heart of the showbiz world.

Her missions? Either poisoning a singer so they’d never hit a note again, or dragging a rival star’s reputation straight through the mud.

The dirt and darkness of showbiz were on a whole different level–no average student could even begin to picture it.

If she ever set foot in the industry, those celebrities who’d hired her for their shady gigs would probably be rolling their eyes in terror, losing sleep for nights on end.

Honestly, she had zero interest in diving into all that drama.

Whatever Nova was thinking in that moment, nobody else could read her mind.

CRACKLE! POP!

Nova’s sudden declaration hit the crowd like fireworks going off in their heads–everyone was left stunned.

Kill off everyone in showbiz?

Did she actually mean the real, deadly kind of “kill“?

“Kill off everyone in showbiz!?”

Jace was so shocked he bit his tongue, but he was too stunned to even feel the pain.

He stammered, voice cracking with disbelief, “Wait, are you seriously talking about–like–actually killing people?

“Or do you mean you’re about to take the entertainment industry by storm?”

Her words packed a double punch.

Still.

For Director Chase, Ryan, Kiki, Lily, and the rest, that was more than enough to send chills down their spines.

“What, do you even have to ask? Of course she meant she’d take the entertainment world by storm! I mean, yeah, you’re cute, but do you really think your beauty could wipe out all the stars? Yeah right, keep dreaming,”

Kiki teased.

“Nova was definitely talking about literally killing people!” Sophia blurted out.

Those two voices fired off immediately after Jace’s question.

The first was Kiki, and the second was, of course, Sophia.

When Kiki heard Sophia’s comment, she shot Nova a sharp glare.

Her look practically shouted, “Really? Are you just showing off to impress the boys now?”

Nova didn’t even spare a glance for all the gasps and questions swirling around her–she couldn’t care less what they thought.

Right now, her attention was wholly captured by a commotion happening just outside a makeshift tent up ahead.

She watched as a girl, probably seventeen or eighteen, was violently kicked out of the tent, tumbling onto the ground.

“Allison! Are you freaking kidding me? I let you in out of the goodness of my heart for some snacks, and now you think you’re hot stuff? Seriously, you think you’re some kind of queen now?

“Trying to walk all over me too, huh?

“Did you seriously forget your place? What makes you think you can just plop down in my seat and chill like you own the place?

“You’re nothing but a stunt double. If you dropped dead while filming, trust me, not a single reporter waste a headline on you!”

would

Right behind the girl, a woman who was practically wearing nothing but a tank top sauntered out of the tent.

She gave the girl sprawled on the ground a frosty stare, barking out insults with barely concealed scorn.

Allison looked like a furious bull–tears brimming at the corners of her eyes, fists clenched so tight her knuckles went white. She stared daggers at the woman, but all that fire stayed bottled up–she didn’t dare say a word.

“You still have the nerve to glare at me like that?

“What, got a death wish or something?”

The woman caught the look and felt her temper explode all over again.

She swung her hand and landed two crisp slaps right across Allison’s face, one after the other.

She slapped her with such practiced contempt, like Allison was just trash she could toss aside whenever she felt like it.

She acted like Allison wasn’t even worth a glance.

Nova’s eyes turned icy the moment she caught a clear look at Allison’s face.

Nova didn’t suddenly turn into a hero for some random stranger.

She wasn’t a bleeding heart saint; sticking her nose into other people’s drama just wasn’t her style.

But this was different.

The girl named Allison–the one who’d just been kicked out–was none other than the younger sister of Falcony, Nova’s loyal comrade who died fighting by her side. Ghost–Hammer had sent her a photo of Allison just recently.

What were the odds? Out of everywhere, Nova ran right into her here.

“The only family I had was my little sister. We grew up in a single–parent home, and money was always so tight.

“Back when I was seven, my mom worked at a textile factory in the county. Those machines were ancient, covered in rusty iron, and nobody ever bothered to fix or replace them.

“Then one day, disaster struck–my mom’s hands got pulled into one of those broken machines. She lost both her hands, and just like that, we had no way to make money.

“The factory boss refused to pay a dime. He even forged paperwork claiming my mom wasn’t officially employed there, so they didn’t owe her anything.

“We spent every penny we had just to pay for my mom’s treatment.

“We had no other way out. Mom was forced to pick–either sell me or my little sister. If she didn’t do it, we’d all just end up starving.

“It tore her up inside. She couldn’t decide for ages. I could see how much it hurt her–she just kept putting it off.

“Meanwhile, the food at home kept shrinking day by day. If things kept going like that, none of us would

make it.

“So I made up my mind and put myself up for sale.

“They only gave me three thousand.”

The scene triggered an involuntary flashback in Nova’s mind.

Years back, after one bloody battle, the five of them sprawled among the war–torn rubble, exhaustion weighing on their shoulders. Ghost–Hammer was bustling around in a makeshift tent, apron tied on, clanging utensils as he prepared dinner for everyone.

That was when Falcony tilted his head to the sky and, voice low, began to lay bare the absurd twists and raw truth of his life.

“After that, I never saw them again.

“If I ever make it out of this hell alive, all I want is to save up a bit and find my mom and little sister.

“Just want them to actually have a full meal for once–so they don’t ever have to go hungry again,” he said.

Falcony never made it out of the war alive.

This world isn’t some twisted Grimm’s Fairy Tale–here, people die every damn day, for all sorts of cruel

reasons.

‘Rest easy, brother. Your wish? I’ll see it through—with my own hands,‘ Nova swore to herself.

“What the hell is her problem? She can’t just hit people like that! That’s way out of line!” Sophia blurted out, her class representative instincts kicking in.

She was about to storm over without a second thought.

But Jace reached out and grabbed her, stopping her in her tracks.

“Don’t go over there! This isn’t something we should get involved in.

“That’s Regan Monroe, the new rising star getting all the buzz in showbiz these days,” he explained.

“She’s got major connections–word is, some powerful big shot is backing her up.

“Bullying the crew and straight–up slapping people right on set? She does that all the time.

“But with someone that influential behind her, nobody’s got the guts to say a word about it,” he finished.

Stars might look all glamorous from the outside, but in reality, they’re just puppets being pulled by the suits running the show.

One word from the big bosses and–bam–any nasty rumor or scandal disappears without a trace.

Take Regan Monroe for instance–she bullies staff, slaps people around, you name it.

When someone’s backed by that much power, nobody’s stupid enough to spill the truth. Unless they’ve got a death wish.

The filthy secrets lurking behind all that sparkle? They’re darker than you could ever dream.

Sophia froze mid–step, her class representative instincts battling with sudden hesitation.

That single moment of hesitation was enough for things to escalate.

Regan, watching Allison clam up and refuse to defend herself, grew even more furious.

“Speak up! What, you mute now? Looking to get yourself killed?

“You little brat, you actually think you can take my seat? You’ve got some serious guts!

What’s next, you planning to climb up and sit on my head now? Huh? Huh?”

Regan did invite Allison into the tent at first, acting all sweet like a caring big sister.

But that was just a performance for the cameras, totally fake.

She only did it for everyone watching out there!

As soon as the cameras were gone, she dropped the act and showed her true colors.

Especially when it came to Allison.

Every glimpse of Allison’s annoyingly gorgeous face–prettier than hers–sent a jolt of panic through Regan, terrified her spot in the spotlight might get snatched away.

Just the idea was enough to make Regan raise her hand again, itching to land another brutal slap across Allison’s cheek.

“SMACK!”

But just then, a slender hand, lightning–fast, lashed out and slapped Regan hard across the face before she could even react.

The blow was so fierce it sent Regan flying, sending her skidding across the ground like a stunned eel, tumbling dozens of yards away.

Nova’s sudden appearance—and her explosive move–left Jace, Director Chase, Kiki, and all the crew frozen in stunned silence.

At that moment, Nova had already pulled her hand back.

She didn’t pay the crowd any mind, and as for Regan, she treated her like she was beneath her notice–not even worth a second glance.

She simply extended her hand toward Allison, gently offering support without overstepping.

Her tone was gentle, softer than anyone had ever expected from her,

“You okay?”

Allison screwed her eyes shut, heart pounding, fully expecting Regan’s slap to land any second.

But… nothing happened. Bewildered, she waited, but the sting never came.

When she finally dared to peek, all she saw was a gentle hand offered to her—and the most stunning face she’d ever seen.

“Th–Thank you… I–I’m alright,” Allison managed, her mind still reeling.

She blinked, honestly unable to believe what she was seeing.

‘I never imagined someone would actually step up and take on Regan for me, Allison thought.

She grabbed Nova’s hand, letting herself be pulled up to her feet.

Meanwhile, Regan staggered to her feet, her face still twisted and throbbing from the slap.

She pressed her hand to her warped cheek, her eyes locking onto Nova’s face with a lifeless, venomous glare- a look that could send chills down anyone’s spine.

“You… You… You actually dared to hit me!”

Right now, she was beyond furious, looking ready to kill.

Her rage boiling over, finally snapped, her voice sharp as a whip.

“Director Chase! Get your ass over here, now!”

Director Chase practically sprinted over, looking like he was about to bow to the ground. He treated Regan like she was the princess of the set, all because of the powerful backer she had behind her.

“W–What’s wrong?” he stammered.

Regan stabbed her finger toward Allison, barking the order with venom.

“Done lounging around? Get back on set–now!

“She’s going to be Jace’s stunt double!

“Scene 18–roll cameras, right this second!”

Regan didn’t start screaming and throwing insults at Nova and Allison like some gutter–level drama queen- no, instead, she switched gears and chose a more ruthless form of payback.

Being a stunt double is incredibly risky.

With all those staged gasoline explosions and fight scene props flying everywhere, getting blown or even breaking bones is alarmingly common in this line of work.

up,

burned,

And for Jace’s stunt double, Scene 18 isn’t just tough–it’s the most dangerous moment in the whole production.

It’s supposed to be handled by a real pro.

Because this scene isn’t just about staged gasoline explosions and prop gunfire–it’s chaos from start to finish.

On paper, it sounds pretty straightforward.

The mercenary boss is being hunted down by a dozen professional killers, all duking it out in an all–out, relentless brawl.

No lines, no small talk–just raw, choreographed fight scenes from start to finish.

But with all the explosions and fake gunfire everywhere, it’s hands down the toughest and riskiest scene in the whole production.

Even seasoned stuntmen risk getting seriously injured with a scene like this.

Of course, every production brings in stunt coordinators and fight choreographers to assess just how dangerous the action sequences are and how likely someone could get hurt.

But when there are live–action stunts with firearms and explosive effects involved, no amount of safety measures can completely prevent accidents.

There’s always a chance that something will go south, no matter how good the precautions are.

Regan didn’t waste time arguing with Nova or Allison–instead, she deliberately ordered Allison to perform the stunt in this highly dangerous scene, clearly wanting to put her right in harm’s way.

She wasn’t about to get into some messy, catty fight with Allison or Nova like some ordinary woman–no way was she going to lose her cool and ruin her image.

She was a future superstar, after all–image was everything to her.

What she wanted was for Allison to end up either dead or seriously injured.

‘That bitch! How dare she humiliate me like this?‘ Regan seethed inwardly, her rage nearly spilling over.

So because of that-

Knowing Allison was strapped for cash, Regan deliberately drawled,

“If you don’t do it, then pack your bags and get out!”

Regan went straight for Allison’s weak spot–and it worked. Allison thought of her mom waiting on that lifesaving cash, every second ticking by making it harder to breathe. Her fists curled up tight at her sides.

“I’ll do it!”

Allison had barely finished speaking when another voice sliced through the air.

“She’s not doing it. I’ll handle the stunt for her.”

A woman’s voice, taller and stronger than Allison’s, echoed suddenly across the set.

The moment everyone saw Nova’s face–expression icy, eyes brimming with a lethal edge–a shock of fear rippled through the crowd.

“Nova?” Sophia felt her heart thud in her chest.

“This isn’t some game! No way, you can’t do this!” Jace blurted, his face going pale.

Sure, he’d thought having Nova show him how to play a mercenary boss would give him some real insight, maybe even help his acting.

But.

She’s actually stepping in as the stunt double?

She’s never done stunts before–one wrong move, and she could actually die!

“This is my own problem, please don’t meddle,” Allison protested, her voice shaky. “I’ve got some experience -I can do it myself…”

She shot a desperate look at Nova, her eyes wide with worry.

But Nova didn’t hesitate–before anyone could say another word, she strode right toward the set truck, taking action without a second thought.

She couldn’t care less what anyone said–Nova was going to do things her way, no matter what.

Usually, whenever there’s a risky stunt scene for a female lead, the studios bring in a male stunt double to handle it.

That’s simply because male stunt performers tend to have more strength and are better trained for those kinds of high–impact action scenes.

It’s almost unheard of for a female stunt double to fill in for a male actor.

But naturally, there’s always the rare exception.

When Nova stepped into the stunt double role, the cameras only caught her from behind her face never appeared on screen.

Decked out in Jace’s costume–a sleek, modern outfit layered with a casual jacket to cover up any trace of curves–Nova looked every bit the mercenary boss.

Topped off with a messy short wig and men’s clothes, she gave off serious frosty vibes–mysterious and cool enough to chill the whole set.

From the side, Nova seriously looked like some devastatingly handsome dude straight out of an action flick.

Even Regan was speechless for a good few seconds, her jaw dropping–she was this close to getting completely wrecked by Nova’s crossdressing swagger.

But Regan snapped back to reality in no time, her

Cruel intentions blazing in her eyes.

She was determined to send Nova to her death–no hesitation, no mercy.

“Pfft, showing off like that? She’s just begging to get herself killed,” Kiki snickered.

“Sophia, you have to stop her! This is seriously out of her league–she can’t just walk into something this risky!

“Just last week, a stunt double got caught in an explosion on set–he’s still stuck in the ICU right now!

“She’s not cut out for this, she-”

Jace was so stressed he literally couldn’t sit still.

He mumbled the words, his voice all shaky from worry.

Sophia was clearly anxious, but after a moment of hesitation, she grit her teeth and said,

“Nova’s never the type to lose control. We should give her our trust–just this once.”

Allison clenched her fists tight, barely able to stop herself from shaking.

Director Chase lingered anxiously outside the set, brows deeply knit in unease–bottom line, there was no way he’d risk defying Regan’s word.

Once the cameras were in place, heavy gear set up, the pyro team waiting, and all the other stunt doubles standing by, everyone on set seemed to be holding their breath.

Director Chase shouted,

“Action!”

Nova stood at the top of a multi–tiered, dangerously steep slope–three levels stacked into one treacherous drop.

Below her, more than a dozen stunt doubles waited, in position to clash with her as deadly assassins.

Nova was playing the mercenary boss.

The script called for her to battle her way down from the highest point, fighting through every challenger until she hit the bottom.

Everything had to be strictly by the book–no messing around or flashy moves allowed.

But since this was Nova’s first time in the spotlight, Director Chase told her to just go off–script and show what she’s got. They’d see how she handled things, then the stunt coordinator would tweak the choreography around her skills and they’d shoot it for real.

After all, actors like them are used to retaking scenes–sometimes a couple, sometimes dozens of times—just to nail that perfect shot.

Regan had already made sure to warn the other stunt doubles ahead of time.

She ordered them not to hold back–if they had to beat Nova within an inch of her life, so be it.

This time, she wanted them to make it real–no faking, absolutely no mercy.

She even slipped them extra cash on the sly, just to drive the point home.

And when the cameras started rolling, Regan, like everyone else, looked up at the top–waiting eagerly to see

the show.

At the very top of the slope, Nova stood alone.

The moment Director Chase yelled “Action!“, a dozen stunt doubles–all playing assassins aiming for the mercenary boss–charged straight at Nova with every ounce of force.

The intensity of their attack…

None of them were holding back–not even a little.

Don’t even mention the difference in strength between men and women.

These guys weren’t just ordinary stuntmen–most were ex–champions from the martial arts circuit, real deal fighters with serious skills.

And as if that wasn’t enough, there were about to be explosions going off right at Nova’s side–plus prop guns blazing everywhere.

The whole place was about to turn into a literal hailstorm of bullets.

How was a girl supposed to even stand a chance in something that crazy?

If she’s really lucky, she’ll just get carted off to the ER–no way she gets out without at least a couple broken bones!

Everyone–headed by Jace, Ryan, and Lily, plus all the crew–held their breath in shock.

Right at that split second, they suddenly caught sight of something.

Nova, up at the very top, made a move!

Just before the three stuntmen could get close, Nova turned into a flash, moving so fast she was almost just a blur.

With zero choreography, she moved like she owned the stage–a real–life puppet master just messing around.

Without even blinking, she snatched the arms of the two guys lunging at her, planted one foot, and in one slick motion, flipped both of them upside down and smashed them straight to the floor!

Then, without a hint of hesitation, Nova snapped her leg up in a high kick–so fast your eyes could barely keep up.

“Bang!”

Her boot connected with the chin of the next stuntman charging in, sending him stumbling sideways before he crumpled into a clumsy roll.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Out of nowhere, the gasoline bombs hidden beneath the dirt suddenly exploded!

But Nova, like she’d already known every trap on set, dove and rolled clear–dodging the blast by a hair’s breadth.

“Rat–tat–tat!”

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Gunfire erupted–just blanks, but then real gasoline bombs actually blew, shaking everyone up.

Almost a dozen stuntmen rushed in after Nova, diving straight into the chaos.

Smoke filled the set in seconds, blinding everyone to whatever happened next.

“Oh no, oh no…”

“She didn’t make it out before the blast! She’s gonna get herself killed!”

“Oh my god, she’s gonna die!”

Jace felt a shiver shoot down his spine. Everyone was convinced Nova was about to pay dearly for her reckless

move.

But as the smoke finally cleared, everyone was stunned.

“Pfft!”

A blank bullet tore through the haze, fast and dead–on, nailing Regan right in the thigh.

It might not have been lethal, but the impact still left her thigh swelling up instantly, like she’d just been whacked with a steel spring.

“Ah!”

Regan piercingly screamed.

But as the smoke finally cleared, everyone was stunned.

Instead of Nova lying there, injured by the explosion like everyone feared, something else appeared before their eyes.

Nova standing tall, gripping a rifle single–handed–the very weapon that had shot Regan in the thigh straight through the haze.

And behind her, over ten stuntmen had been piled up together like lifeless bodies, stacked high into a human

sandbag mound, their forms bent and tangled in the chaos.

The smoke and bullets hadn’t even grazed her.

Bathed in firelight, Nova lifted her head–her eyes glowed blood–red.

Through her, that fake set suddenly felt like a real, savage battlefield, the kind where mercenaries lived and bled by the blade and the bullet.

In that moment, time seemed to freeze on set.

Everyone felt a chill run through their soul–lost and stunned, like reality had slipped away.

It wasn’t just Nova acting as the mercenary leader–no, it was like the mercenary leader existed just for her. This character belonged to her, and only her.