Their Queen's Back - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Early the next morning, Skye made chicken noodle soup for Sophia. The familiar taste made her eyes well up and her nose sting—she was overwhelmed by a rush of memories and nearly burst into tears.
Today's the weekend—you're off, right?
Sophia replied, "Yeah."
"After breakfast, let's go back and check it out together," Skye said. "I had the house completely renovated—your old room is gone now. From now on, you'll be living right next door to me. I even had them knock through the wall between our rooms and put in a special connecting door, just for you."
Sophia felt a bittersweet warmth in her heart. "So, Skye knew everything all along," she realized.
"How wonderful," Sophia thought.
Skye would never give up the villa—it was her mother's house, their family home, and the very symbol of what home meant to her. If Sophia didn't like living there, Skye would tear it down and rebuild it from the ground up, just to give her a place she truly belonged.
Skye's mind conjured up the image of a woman in a red cheongsam, her hair elegantly pinned up, silver-white pearl earrings gleaming. That memory from that summer remained vividly clear.
A hand gently stroked her head. Her mother said, "Skye, do you know why I named you Skye? Because I want you to live your whole life free-spirited and joyful. My Skye is meant to always come out on top. You're the handpicked successor I've raised—don't let me down."
Sophia looked at her sister and asked, "Skye, does this mean we'll be moving back to Mom's house now?"
"What if I lose control again?" Sophia couldn't help but worry. "What if I slip back into that spiral of self-doubt and fear?"
Skye gently ruffled Sophia's hair. Her tone was soft, but every word sent shockwaves through Sophia's heart.
Sophia, remember—running away never solves anything. Only by facing the darkness head-on can you stop fearing it. From today on, for every bit of pain they've inflicted on you, we'll pay them back tenfold. The suffering you've endured—I'll make them pay a thousand times over.
Sophia gazed at Skye, starry-eyed with wonder, utterly spellbound and unable to snap back to reality for a long moment.
As the sisters descended the stairs, a man suddenly came running toward them. Startled, Sophia recoiled in shock as the man dropped to his knees right in front of her with a heavy thud.
The man fell to his knees, pleading desperately, "Ms. Hughes, I was wrong, I was so wrong! Please forgive me, please have mercy on me! I swear I'll never dare to have any improper thoughts about you again. I shouldn't have said those things—it was all my fault. I deserve to be beaten."
As he spoke, the sharp sound of slaps echoed as the man struck himself repeatedly. Stunned, Sophia suddenly realized, "Wait... isn't that the landlord?"
"How... how did he end up in such a wretched state?" Sophia thought, utterly stunned.
Skye took the property deed from Lauren and handed it to Sophia. "Sophia," she said with a gentle smile, "from now on, you're the owner of this apartment building. The deed is officially registered in your name."
Sophia's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the property deed, her hands trembling as she double- and triple-checked the name. There was no mistake—it was really her name.
Sophia looked at Skye in disbelief, her hands trembling as she tried to hand the property deed back. "I—I... I can't accept this," she stammered, clearly overwhelmed.
Sophia was visibly shaken, stammering, "N-no, Skye... how... how did you buy this building? I-I can't accept this, it's yours."
Skye put on an exaggerated frown and wagged her finger playfully. "If you keep refusing, I swear I'll really get mad this time."
Sophia had lived here for seven years and had long considered this sanctuary her own little home. Now, she could come back whenever she wanted.
Sophia quickly snatched back the property deed, her large almond-shaped eyes squinting into joyful crescents, round cheeks dimpling with a radiant smile.
"You're amazing, Sis!" Sophia exclaimed.
Skye lowered her head, looking at the landlord on the ground. "I know he's been harassing you for a long time," she said firmly. "I've already reported it to the police, and they've filed a case. Sophia, just say the word and they'll put him behind bars."
Skye didn't look up at Sophia. She wanted to see what stance her sister would take—would she forgive this disgusting landlord, just as she had forgiven those two girls who bullied her before?
She didn't mention that the landlord had actually harassed numerous other girls—all of whom had gone to the police station to file reports against him.
This landlord is definitely going to jail.
Sophia clenched her fists, her eyes burning with hatred as she glared at the landlord. "All these years, he's been relentlessly tormenting and harassing me—both openly and in the shadows!" she seethed inwardly.
Time and again, he would sneak into her room under cover of darkness, his vile intentions all too clear.
The first time it happened, Sophia was scared stiff—she grabbed whatever was at hand and struck him in self-defense. When she tried to call the police, the landlord blackmailed her with demands for hush money, knowing full well she couldn't afford it. Emboldened by her financial vulnerability, he kept pushing his luck, growing bolder each time.
Under the constant barrage of verbal abuse, Sophia had once contemplated ending what she saw as her pathetic existence.
After that, she started keeping a knife by her bed. More than once, when the landlord tried to bother her, she slashed at him. Only then did he finally back off, too afraid to mess with her again.
Why should she let this filthy bastard off the hook? Sophia thought, her hands trembling with rage.
Sophia's eyes burned crimson as she shouted, "Skye, I want him behind bars! I want him to pay for what he's done! I hate him—God, how I hate him! Every single time, he's tormented me!"
Skye nodded firmly. "Good. He's definitely going to prison—no question about it."
Sophia gave a determined nod as she watched the landlord being led away by the police. She wiped away tears of relief from her eyes.
"Skye, let's go home!" Sophia said.
"Alright, let's go," Skye said gently.
Lauren was at the wheel. Sophia studied her—blonde hair and blue eyes, but aside from those eyes, she didn't seem foreign at all. Instead, she was strikingly beautiful and carried the same commanding presence as Skye. "No wonder my sister keeps her close," Sophia thought with a hint of pride.
Sophia tilted her head and asked curiously, "Skye, is Lauren your assistant?"
Skye nodded with a soft "Mm-hmm."
Lauren smiled and said, "Miss Sophia, I'm Ms. Sky's assistant. I'm truly grateful that Ms. Sky chose me as her assistant—working alongside her has taught me so much."
"Lauren is wonderful," Skye said. "You can always come to her with anything."
Lauren turned to Sophia with a reassuring smile. "Miss Sophia, just say the word and I'm at your service."
Sophia couldn't help but feel proud of her sister—Skye was not only wealthy, but also had such an amazing assistant. "She's really, really incredible," Sophia thought.
Sophia looked down at the property deed in her hands—her sister's gift. "I have to cherish this," she thought, her heart full of gratitude.
Linda and Richard barely slept a wink all night, kept awake by the constant banging and drilling from the renovation.
Early that morning, Eleanor Hughes, Richard's mother, came over. The relentless renovation noise was already grating on her nerves.
Eleanor barked, "Make them stop this instant! What are they doing? Can't you see your old lady has arrived? Who are these intruders? You two—move! Get them all out now!"
Didn't Richard and Linda want to? Of course they did—but what could they do?
But they couldn't boss those workers around at all. When they rushed over to intervene, they nearly got their heads bashed in.
That damned unfilial girl! How dare she treat her own father like this? This is utterly immoral—beyond all bounds of decency!
"Mom, just put up with it for now. The noise will stop when the renovation's done."
Trembling with rage, Eleanor slammed her hand on the table.
Eleanor snapped, "Didn't you say that disgrace of a daughter was back? Where the hell is she?"
Eleanor had already heard from Linda about what happened last night. She couldn't believe Skye dared to disregard her so completely, even having the audacity to threaten to throw everyone out.
Mom, kids are just kids—don't be too mad at them. Even though they treated me badly last night, I've already forgiven them. After all, they're my husband's daughters. Compared to them, I'm just an outsider here.
Eleanor grabbed Linda's hand and announced loudly, "Who dares call you an outsider? You're my rightful daughter-in-law! Don't worry, Linda—Mom will get justice for you. I want to see what she thinks she's doing, coming back after ten years and causing such chaos that no one can get any peace. Does she think she's so important now? God only knows what she's been up to all these years. She doesn't act like a proper young lady at all—she's thrown all our family rules to the dogs!"
A cool, mocking voice cut through the air. "The Cascadian royal family was overthrown ages ago. Which palace did the Hughes serve in, back then? All these years, I never knew our dear father's ancestors were actually high-ranking court officials."