The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Gasps rippled through the entire set.

In that instant, it felt like a real mercenary boss had just walked straight onto the scene.

Everyone was so shocked, not a single word escaped their lips.

Even Director Chase was so thrown off that he forgot to shout “cut.”

He could swear on his whole career–this scene unfolding before him was bound to be the showstopper of this entire film.

In all the thirty or forty years he’d spent calling the shots behind the camera, nothing he’d ever filmed came close to being this flawless.

“Cut! Cut! Cut!”

Director Chase called out, practically bursting with excitement as he strode over. “Phenomenal! Absolutely phenomenal!

“You completely embodied the mercenary boss!

“It’s like you were born for this role!

“If someone didn’t know any better, they’d swear you were just showing your true self out there!”

Compliments spilled from Director Chase the moment he opened his mouth.

He strode over, just about to greet Nova as she walked over. “Young lady, have you ever trained in martial arts?

“Seriously–have you really never thought about getting into showbiz?”

However, Nova strode up–not a trace of softness or typical girlishness in her. She was pure edge, all sharp lines and cool disdain.

Without missing a beat, she ripped off her short wig, shucked her jacket with practiced ease, and cut right past Director Chase without so much as looking at him, zeroing in on Regan.

Regan felt chills prickle down her scalp as she watched.

“Y–Y–You…”

“Guess you really do have some moves…” Regan muttered, her heart hammering with nerves.

Nova’s performance had totally blown her away.

Just moments ago, Regan had genuinely wanted to finish them off.

But who could prove it?

Besides, with all these people watching, there’s no way Nova would actually do anything to her.

With that in mind, Regan straightened her back, bravado flooding back. She was ready to fire off another line.

“Bang!”

Without a shred of hesitation, Nova swung her leg up and drove it into Regan’s chest, sending her flying.

Regan’s body crumpled like dead weight and crashed straight into one of the tents.

Celeb or not, Nova didn’t give a damn–if you had it coming, she made sure you paid for it.

Nova’s glare cut through the crowd like she owned the place. If her eyes were weapons, Regan would’ve been six feet under a hundred times already.

Nova snapped, her voice hard as steel.

“If you value your life, stay the hell out of my sight!”

Her series of hardcore moves left Director Chase, Kiki, Lily, Jace, and every single crew member completely stunned.

‘She really doesn’t give a damn about stirring up trouble, does she?‘ they all thought.

She just went for it–no hesitation, no second thoughts.

She was nothing like those starstruck teenage girls who treated celebrities like gods.

The sheer force of Nova’s aura was so striking, even the jaded crew–used to working with the biggest stars and prettiest faces in the business–found themselves completely hypnotized.

No one could pull their eyes away for even a moment.

Nova was shining so bright, Allison couldn’t help but look down at herself, suddenly noticing all the dust on her clothes and the dirt smudged across her hands.

She felt so small–she couldn’t even bring herself to step forward and thank Nova.

Scared Nova would catch a glimpse of how much of a mess she was, Allison turned around, desperate to just slip away unnoticed.

“Got a minute to talk?”

Just as Allison was about to slip away, Nova’s voice rang out behind her. “It’s about your brother.”

The simple word “brother” was like a beam of light slicing clean through the shadows that had always haunted her heart.

Allison spun around, her whole body tense with emotion, her voice rising with desperate hope.

“My brother? You–do you really know my brother? Do you know where he is?”

When Falcony sold himself to get three grand for the family, Allison was only two years old.

She was way too little to really understand anything back then.

Everything she knew about her brother was pieced together from the way her mom described him.

Allison knew deep down that her brother was a genuinely good guy–the kind of person who’d sacrifice everything just so she and their mom could keep living.

She’d always dreamed of meeting her brother in real life, wishing for it more than anything.

Allison’s eyes, burning with longing, met Nova’s–making Nova’s heart grow inexplicably heavy for a

moment.

Nova understood the only reason Allison agreed to do the dangerous stunt double work in Scene 18 for Jace was because she desperately needed the money.

She hadn’t come clean about her background to Allison right from the get–go.

Nor did she simply shove some cash at Allison and tell her to bail on the shoot.

Why?

From the way Allison carried herself, Nova could tell she was the kind of girl who never let anyone see her struggle–she was tough as nails, always putting on a brave face.

If Nova just came out and said it, she’d only end up embarrassing Allison in front of everyone, crushing her pride.

As soon as Falcony’s name came up, Nova’s gaze dropped, a shadow passing over her face–her eyes suddenly losing all their light.

“I’m your brother’s boss. He can’t come back for now.”

She lied.

Other than the secrets about her own past, this was one of the rare lies she’d ever told.

“Really? It’s really my brother–Aaron Forrest?

“You’re his boss? What’s he been up to all these years? Why hasn’t he come home to see me and Mom?

“If Mom finds out, she’ll be over the moon!”

Allison couldn’t hold back her tears any longer–they just spilled out, unstoppable.

She clasped her hands together so tightly her knuckles turned white, her whole face lit up with hope.

Falcony’s real name was Aaron Forrest.

Like Nova, Falcony was a Zoriaien too.

Allison was so young and innocent–she believed every word Nova said without a hint of doubt.

Seeing that kind of purity in Allison’s eyes only made Nova’s own gaze grow dimmer.

“Here,” Nova said, handing Allison a bank card. “Your brother wanted me to pass this to you. There’s enough in there for you and your mom to get by–no need to keep working here anymore.

“You’re still just a kid. School’s where you should be, not this place.”

Nova chose not to answer Allison’s questions.

She handed Allison her own bank card, her voice clear and calm.

“The PIN is six eights–888888. My number’s 16357980366. Your brother and I… we’re loyal. The truest kind of-

“Friends.

“If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

With that, Nova fell silent.

For the first time ever, Nova couldn’t bear to meet Allison’s innocent gaze.

Allison’s innocence only made Nova’s own blood–soaked darkness stand out all the more.

Suddenly, Nova felt the full weight of her own sins.

After saying all that, Nova turned and walked away, never once looking back.

She left without a single word, leaving nothing but silence behind.

Allison stared blankly after Nova, clutching the bank card so tightly her fingers ached–she was left dazed and thrown, caught between surprise and confusion, totally lost and unsure what she was supposed to do now.

Just outside the Evergreen Film Studios.

“Nova? Why are you heading out now? My cousin Jace hasn’t even led us in to meet the superstar yet!” Sophia called after her.

“Eh?”

Sophia jogged out with her shoulder bag slung across her, panting from the chase.

Jace, Ryan, and Leo were tailing her, right on her heels.

Kiki and Lily stayed put inside–the kind of girls who’d fought so hard just to get on the crew were never gonna give up their spot that easily.

Jace hustled after Nova, a thought buzzing in his mind.

“Nova, wait up! You still owe me some tips on how to play the boss like a pro!” He called out.

Nova had been walking away, determined not to look back, but she stopped dead in her tracks as soon as she heard Jace pipe up about the ‘mercenary boss.

Her gaze–glacial and unforgiving–landed on Sophia and the crew trailing after her.

Rather than replying to Jace, Nova narrowed her eyes and threw it back at them.

“Tell me how do you really see mercenaries, and the people who lead them?”

The question hung in the air.

Sophia and the others were put completely on the spot, struggling to come up with a single word.

“Huh?”

Honestly, Sophia had no idea why Nova would even ask that. “How do we see them?”

“Aren’t they just… the bad guys?”

Jace, meanwhile, was convinced Nova was about to give him some real insight into the character–like she was about to break down the mercenary boss’s mindset and show him how to really nail the role.

He instantly perked up, his voice rising with excitement as he jumped in to share his take.

“Mercenaries and their bosses? I mean, what makes them any different from terrorists?

“Isn’t that how they’re always portrayed in movies and TV shows?

“They’re the worst of the worst–totally unforgivable!

“If the cops ever caught them, you could execute them a hundred times and it still wouldn’t be enough— they’re that unforgivable!”