The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

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Over the years, Nova had lost the ordinary girl’s concern for appearance, along with the innocence and youth most people took for granted.

In the brutal underground circles and the survival–of–the–fittest mercenary world, bullets showed no mercy for a girl’s looks. It was a realm of raw competition–kill or be killed.

In the face of survival, every wound, every near–death struggle she had endured seemed trivial.

Now, Nova didn’t care about her scars or the stares of others. She had seen a world far more terrifying than mockery or scorn. That was the mercenary’s domain.

When Nova’s scars were exposed to everyone present, all the students drew a sharp breath.

Layer upon layer of scars, some healed for years but still visible, made it impossible not to imagine the brutality she had endured.

Students couldn’t help wondering, ‘Were those injuries life–threatening?”

‘Why does Nova carry so many scars?‘

‘What has she been through all these years after leaving the Blake family?‘

An involuntary shudder ran through the crowd.

“No… “Th–this can’t be…” Seeing the scars on Nova’s body, Claire covered her mouth, trembling as she stumbled backward.

Claire had assumed Nova’s body would be covered in hickeys, or perhaps whip marks and burns from serving some perverted old guys. But reality was nothing like she had imagined.

‘What kind of brutal past could leave such marks?‘ Claire’s thoughts spun, but she didn’t dare dwell on it.

When Claire accused Nova of refusing to take off her jacket because she had “slept with too many men,” a flicker of instinctive disgust had crossed Zane’s face, and his gaze toward Nova cooled.

As the top prom king, if he took an interest in a girl only to find she had a sordid history, he would lose all interest instantly. In his view, a “dirty” woman wasn’t worth his attention.

But seeing those horrifying scars on Nova’s body, he was stunned. His heart wrenched with unexpected pain.

Zane clenched his jaw, thinking, ‘Damn it! Even knowing this woman might be playing hard to get, I still can’t help caring.

“Nova…” Sophia and Ethan spoke almost in unison.

They spoke almost in unison. The scrutiny in their eyes had already faded, replaced by heartache and

concern.

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Chapter 38

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If the situation allowed, Sophia would have rushed to hug Nova right then–to embrace this girl her own age but who had suffered a lot.

Compared to those around Nova–Sophia and the school heartthrobs, the other students were just shocked and curious. They couldn’t help thinking, ‘Why is Nova, the Blake family’s long–lost heiress, covered in scars?‘

‘Where did she get hurt like this?”

‘What has she been through?‘

These outsiders were filled with such doubts. For Maxwell and Hannah, who were related to Nova, their doubts weighed even heavier.

Witnessing it all, Maxwell’s eyes widened in shock. He stared at the wounds on Nova’s body, fists clenched, unable to utter a word for a long moment. It wasn’t that he had nothing to ask. It was that he didn’t dare.

Maxwell was three years older than Nova and still remembered her disappearance at age five.

He was eight then, and his memories of Nova remained clear. In his memory, Nova had been lively and cheerful, often inseparable from Hannah. The two sisters were deeply bonded.

However, fate had twisted sharply the year Nova went missing. Soon after, their mother and grandmother were in a car accident while searching for Nova–their mother was left disabled for life, and their grandmother died.

In Maxwell and Hannah’s hearts, a distorted seed had taken root. They blamed the young Nova for indirectly causing their grandmother’s death and ruining their mother.

Yet they forgot one thing–Nova was just a child then, alone outside, possibly kidnapped, beaten, locked in a dark, cramped cage… A five–year–old, forced to taste hell, scrambling to survive.

Finally, Nova escaped that nightmare and returned home, outwardly happy in her brand–name clothes, longing to embrace her family.

And how had Maxwell and Hannah treated Nova then?

Though Maxwell had helped Nova many times, his way of addressing her revealed the chasm in his heart. He could naturally call Hannah “Hannie,” but he could only call Nova by her name.

Now, looking at Nova’s scar–covered body, Maxwell suddenly felt that asking why no longer mattered. What mattered more was…

let me protect you.” It was the first time Maxwell had “Novie… You’ve had a hard journey home. From now on, called her “Novie” wholeheartedly. Deep down, he truly accepted her as his sister.

Nova was neither a tolerant doormat nor a petty person. She didn’t care about others‘ reactions, only whether her family could accept her.

If not, she wouldn’t cry or make a scene. She would simply leave quietly. But regardless, with Maxwell’s words and acceptance, it was already enough for her.

9/4

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Chapter 38

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Nova shifted her gaze calmly toward Hannah, who had been standing rigidly in place as if struck by lightning since seeing her scars. She turned slightly toward Hannah and said, “This is my answer.”

That was the reason why she hadn’t removed her jacket. It had nothing to do with targeting anyone.

Nova’s words hit Hannah like a blow. Her whole body trembled.

Everything before her overturned Hannah’s understanding of Nova. She had assumed Nova lived a good life all those years away, leaving the family to bear the pain of loss.

Nova had returned in those fancy clothes, looking polished and successful, but she was covered in scars.

“How… How could this happen? It’s impossible. Weren’t you doing well out there? Impossible. How could this…” Hannah muttered incoherently.

She would rather Nova be as annoyingly perfect as she appeared, not like… this.

Amid the stunned silence, Nova lowered her eyes. This was the first time since returning home that she responded to Hannah’s persistent targeting. She said flatly, “Nothing is impossible.

“I’ve never denied that I’m responsible for what happened to Mom and Grandma. It’s a past I can’t undo.

“You’re fortunate. You’ve had parents and a brother protecting you since birth.

“On a few points, you weren’t wrong. I faced death repeatedly out there, almost didn’t make it back. Where I lived was nothing like your polished world. My childhood was a struggle in the slums.

“You, who’ve lived a life of luxury, will never understand what a child fighting for one meal a day can do to

survive.”

Nova paused briefly. She raised her hand, looking at the scars on her forearm, and offered Hannah a faint smile.

Nova wasn’t asking for sympathy or warmth. She didn’t need them, never needed.

As if calmly recounting a stranger’s past, she continued, “A beating couldn’t even earn me a moldy piece of bread. Huh, this world… is truly a damn joke.”

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