The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

The message was unmistakable. The only children Charles was “permitted” to bring back into the fold were Hannah and Maxwell. Both had been groomed from a young age, their skills and qualifications making them acceptable candidates for reintegration into the main family.

But Nova—his daughter who had been lost to them for over ten years and only recently rediscovered—was not granted the same recognition. To them, she was unworthy of acknowledgment, let alone a place among the core family members.

The man speaking with such cold disdain was Harvey Blake, Charles’ second eldest brother. He sneered inwardly, thinking, *Did Charles really believe any kind of riffraff could be welcomed into the main family?*

Blake Manor, a sprawling estate nestled in the countryside, housed nearly forty family members spanning three generations, though only about a dozen were gathered here today. The grand hall was heavy with tension, the air thick with unspoken judgments.

Charles had three brothers: Daniel, the eldest; Harvey, the middle; and Finley, the youngest. Harvey, dismissive and rigid, was Nova’s second uncle, yet he showed no sign of recognizing her as family.

“Harvey, you can’t be serious,” Charles retorted sharply, his protective instincts flaring. “Nova is my daughter, no matter what you think of her abilities. You invited me to bring my children, and that means all of them.”

For Charles, his children were non-negotiable. Besides, his feud with Harvey was long-standing, stretching back to their childhood when Harvey had even tried to have Charles expelled from the family.

Hannah, her temper flaring, snapped at Harvey, “Who do you think you’re trying to intimidate? Do you think we’re desperate to come back? Either don’t invite us at all, or accept our entire family. Who do you think you are, ordering us around? Get lost!”

Maxwell, calm but firm, sided with his sister. “Harvey, whether Nova has talent isn’t your call to make. Hannah’s right—you have no authority here. Step aside.”

The other relatives remained silent, perhaps out of respect for Alfred’s presence or simply unwilling to challenge Harvey’s boldness.

Harvey’s arrogance stemmed from one undeniable fact: his son was the main family’s most formidable young prodigy, ranked 2099th on the international mercenary leaderboard. This status granted Harvey a near-untouchable position within the family hierarchy. Even Alfred, the family patriarch, treated him with a measure of deference.

Alfred stood half-turned, silent, observing the confrontation with a stoic expression.

Hannah and Maxwell’s defiance only fueled Harvey’s fury. Since his son had risen to such prominence, no one dared to disrespect him openly. Harvey’s thoughts raced, *My son is ranked 2099th worldwide—and soon he’ll break into the top 2090. At his age, he might even reach the top 2000 one day!*

Each step up the ranking was a monumental achievement; the top 2000 were elite mercenaries, and those in the top 500, 200, or even 100 were legends—levels Harvey could only dream of.

The crowd glanced at Ghost-Hammer, a towering figure standing silently behind Nova, and exchanged uncertain looks. *Can this giant really handle Harvey?*

Before anyone could respond, Ghost-Hammer moved with surprising speed and precision. He seized Harvey, spun him through the air, and forcefully ejected him from the manor’s grand entrance.

The swift, ruthless action left everyone gasping in shock and fear.

“Is… is that her bodyguard?” whispered a nearby relative, assuming Nova had hired Ghost-Hammer for protection and to make a statement.

Without missing a beat, Nova turned back toward the main family members, her frosty gaze sweeping over them like a harbinger of doom. In that moment, she seemed less a young woman and more an emissary from the depths of hell, cold and unyielding.

Her voice was sharp and merciless. “I don’t care what you think of my family, nor do I care how ‘strong’ your so-called young genius is. Since I’m here, you’d better keep your noisy mouths shut.”

She paused, her words hanging heavy in the air before she delivered her final warning. “If you don’t, I will wipe out the main family and Blake Security Group so thoroughly, not a whisper of you will remain. I swear it.”