The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

“Nova?” Charles’s voice trembled with fear as he took in the scene before him. He never expected to find his daughter—who had only recently come back home—surrounded by shadowy figures from the black market, as if she were the center of their clandestine world.

She stood alarmingly close to a powerful, unfamiliar man.

From Charles’s vantage point, it appeared as though Nova and this man, Damien, were locked in an embrace.

His heart pounding with dread, Charles recalled the worst fears that had gnawed at him before he quietly made his way upstairs. ‘Has Nova been coerced by some underworld kingpin? Is this man the puppeteer behind it all?’ he wondered anxiously.

Without a second thought, Charles hurried forward, placing himself protectively in front of Nova. He pulled her behind him and fixed a fierce glare on Damien. “Who the hell are you? How dare you lay a hand on my daughter!”

The Blake family’s reputation for fiercely guarding their children was well-known, especially when it came to Nova. Charles’s protective instincts flared with an intensity that brooked no argument.

Unaware of the subtle tension that had simmered moments earlier between Nova and Damien, Charles jumped to the conclusion that his daughter was being mistreated.

He stood firm, shielding Nova with his presence, his eyes sharp and watchful as they bore into Damien.

Nova hadn’t intended to pull the trigger; her refusal to back down had been her only aim. As Charles intervened, she discreetly slid the pistol back into its hiding place at her side.

Charles, caught up in his paternal fury, failed to notice the weapon at all. Normally, he was a calm, measured businessman who treated everyone with courtesy and respect.

But now, his protective fatherly instincts took precedence. He fixed Damien with a hard stare and demanded, “Is it you who’s been tormenting my daughter all this time?”

Damien’s eyes dropped, confusion flickering across his face. ‘Torment her? I haven’t done that… Wait, that’s her father?’ he thought, glancing past Charles to Nova. She stood quietly behind her father, watching him with a faint sparkle of amusement in her eyes.

“I’ll find you again,” Damien said quietly after casting a long look at Nova. Then, without another word, he turned and strode away, Aiden close behind him.

Despite Damien’s reputation as the ruthless leader of Shadow Sanctum, Nova sensed no real threat in his demeanor.

What startled her even more was that, despite Charles’s harsh words, Damien had shown no sign of anger or retaliation.

A small, amused smile flickered across Nova’s lips as she mused silently, ‘Could it be… he actually has feelings for me? Now, that’s something worth noting.’

“Nova, are you alright? Did he hurt you?” Charles’s voice softened, worry evident as he held her hand tightly. “I’m here now. Don’t ever keep things bottled up inside.” His eyes were filled with concern. “That man seemed decent enough. How could he do something like that? Don’t be scared. I’m taking you home right away.”

Still shaken, Charles no longer cared about the business connections he might be jeopardizing. He called over the stunned Hannah and quickly led both his daughters downstairs. To him, family was always the priority.

Meanwhile, Claire, Hannah, Zane, and Jessica watched the unfolding drama with puzzled expressions. They couldn’t understand why these notorious black market figures seemed so wary of the two.

Zane studied Nova carefully, his brow furrowed. ‘Maybe Damien is just someone who took a liking to Nova, even if he’s from the underworld,’ he speculated.

Claire, on the other hand, had secretly hoped to witness Nova humiliated by some sleazy man. Instead, seeing her standing so close to a powerful figure filled Claire with a strange excitement. She thought, her heart pounding with wild hope, that her deepest fantasies were coming true.

Charles’s tone was gentle, trying to soothe her. “No matter what happens, Nova is our precious daughter. Let’s not speak of this again.”

The following morning dawned like any other school day.

The moment Sophia saw Nova, concern etched across her face. “What happened yesterday? Why did you leave so suddenly? Ethan said it was an emergency. What was it?”

Nova shrugged, brushing off the question. “It’s nothing.”

Sophia didn’t press further, simply nodding with a soft “Oh.”

As class was about to begin, with students still stretching and yawning, suddenly a breathless student burst into the room, shouting, “Something’s happening! A man with a hammer broke into the school! The guards couldn’t stop him!”

“Many students tried to block him and got knocked down. Hurry! It’s chaos on the sports field—they’re fighting!”

The promise of excitement was irresistible. Within moments, nearly every student had rushed outside to witness the commotion.

Hearing the word “hammer,” Nova’s mind snapped into focus. Sitting at her desk, she immediately recognized who it was.

The man was Ghost-Hammer—her battle-hardened partner who had once fought fiercely alongside her, tearing through enemy lines. Now, he was a key player in whatever chaos was unfolding.