Their Queen's Back - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Skye gently stroked her hair and murmured, "Nowhere special. Let's get you to bed."
She knew that Sophia lacked a sense of security, so she had been sleeping by her side at night recently.
Sophia lay awake, her almond eyes wide in the dim light. With cautious concern, she ventured softly, "Sis, were you... were you alright all those years abroad?"
Images of bloodshed and treachery, along with fleeting moments of warmth and happiness, flashed through Skye's mind—but it was all in the past now.
Skye said, "My adoptive parents were very good to me. I never wanted for anything."
Sophia smiled with relief, hugged Skye's arm, and snuggled closer to her. "I'm glad to hear that, Sis."
"Sis didn't suffer after all," Sophia thought.
"Sophia, do you still have feelings for Matthew?" Skye asked gently.
Skye asked gently. She had looked into Sophia and Matthew's relationship history and found the girl was wholeheartedly devoted to him—so deeply in love that, even when hurt, she still chose to stay by his side.
For a moment, Sophia froze, at a complete loss for how to respond. "Do I... do I still like him?" she wondered.
It'd be a lie to say I never liked him—I really did, she admitted to herself.
Sophia thought, "Matthew was truly wonderful at first—so attentive in every way. When I was kicked out at eighteen, that money he casually tossed my way... it literally saved my life."
Sophia thought, "Richard never gave me a single cent all these years. I scraped by on part-time jobs just to survive. It wasn't until my senior year internship that I ran into Matthew again."
She remembered how, when her manager was giving her a hard time, it was Matthew who came to her rescue.
"After that, he started pursuing me," she recalled. "Whenever I wasn't feeling well, he'd make me ginger tea and tell me stories. In the beginning, our relationship was truly wonderful."
But everything changed when Lily appeared. He was never the same after that.
He started calling me unreasonable and impossible to reason with.
I did love him once—he was that rare ray of light in my otherwise dark life. But now I see how desperately I clung to that hard-won warmth.
After Sis left, I'd been starved of affection for so long. My world turned ice-cold—not a shred of warmth remained.
Sophia thought, "Time after time, he broke my heart for Lily. But when he publicly humiliated me at the bar and forced me to kneel—that's when I finally woke up."
"That ray of light was never truly mine," Sophia realized. "Now that I have the sun itself in my life, that insignificant glimmer no longer holds any meaning for me."
Sophia hesitated for a long while. Skye stayed quietly by her side, never pressing her, patiently waiting as she gathered her thoughts.
After a long silence, Sophia finally spoke, her voice soft but resolute. "Sis, I did like him before, but not anymore."
Skye gave Sophia's soft little cheek a gentle squeeze and said warmly, "Alright, I understand. You'll meet someone even better, Sophia."
Sophia nuzzled her hand like an affectionate kitten. "I don't need anyone else. Having you is enough, Sis."
Skye smiled softly, affection in her eyes.
The next day
Sophia returned to work while Skye settled on the sofa, sipping tea with a book in hand, quietly awaiting someone's arrival.
Moments later, Rowan showed up at the Hughes' doorstep—her hair in twin ponytails, glasses perched on her nose, sucking on a lollipop, and a pink backpack slung over one shoulder, radiating punkish cuteness.
Rowan threw herself into Lauren's arms, burying her face against Lauren's chest like a clingy little sister.
Rowan clung to Lauren, burying her face in Lauren's chest. "Lauren, I've missed you so much! Mmm, you smell amazing," she cooed, her voice full of playful affection.
Lauren grabbed Rowan by the collar with an impassive expression and pulled her aside. In a stern voice, she ordered, "Cut it out. You're coming with me to see Ms. Sky."
Rowan puckered her lips and snorted disdainfully before striding in. The moment she spotted Skye sitting in the living room, her demeanor instantly shifted—she straightened up, swallowed hard, carefully wrapped her lollipop in paper, and tossed it to Lauren.
"Ms. Sky," Rowan said. Her carefree grin vanished instantly, replaced by an expression of icy solemnity.
Skye set down the book and fixed Rowan with a cool, detached gaze. The mere act of lifting her eyes sent a shiver down Rowan's spine.
Rowan swallowed hard, nervously.
Rowan, I appreciate you making the transfer from Magnolia Country.
Ms. Sky, no hardship for Rowan. Rowan pledges to follow you to the death.
Skye stood up, her statuesque figure dwarfing Rowan.
"Let's go to the office. Rowan, come with me. Lauren, you may attend to your own matters."
"Yes." Lauren bowed her head respectfully.
Rowan stuck out her tongue at Lauren. Lauren shot her a warning glare and snapped, "Behave yourself!"
"No way~" Rowan teased, grinning at Lauren. "You smell amazing. I'm coming over to play with you tonight!"
Lauren averted her gaze, refusing to meet Rowan's eyes. With a sweet, mischievous smile, Rowan skipped forward to catch up with Skye.
Linda had been locked in the punishment room all night, not a drop of water to drink. Every time she tried to sleep, piercing screeches would jolt her awake. The floor was crawling with rats and centipedes, and the temperature wildly fluctuated between freezing cold and sweltering heat.
Exhausted after a night spent in terror, she was now too weak to even cry out. Weakly pounding on the door, she pleaded, "Let me out, let me out."
At noon, Sophia returned home. Passing by the punishment room, she heard faint, barely-alive moans. Just as she reached for the doorknob, the butler arrived in the nick of time.
"Miss Sophia, Miss Skye has given strict orders—Ms. Collins is not to be released without her permission."
Sophia froze for a second, then asked in confusion, "Wait... is that Linda locked inside?"
The butler nodded. Sophia was stunned for a moment, then felt a surge of vindictive satisfaction. "How many times have I been locked in that punishment room myself? Now it's finally her turn," she thought.
"My sister's right," Sophia said coldly. "Keep her locked up—no food for two days, then feed her scraps like the dog she is."
"Wasn't this exactly how she treated me back then?" Sophia thought bitterly. "Little by little, she filed down my claws and crushed my pride."
Linda banged violently on the door, shouting, "Sophia, you wretched little bitch! You're dead! How dare you treat me like this? Just wait till my daughter gets back—she'll make you pay! You worthless brat! You little bitch!"
Sophia had almost forgotten about Linda's so-called good daughter. But what did it matter? Did they really think she would just take their abuse lying down this time?
"Look how energetic she still is," Sophia sneered. "No food for three days, then."
Linda's eyes bulged in outrage. "You can't do this to me! I'm your elder, your stepmother—your father's wife! You little bitches!"
Sophia's eyes flashed with a cold glint. "Linda," she said sharply, "don't forget—you did exactly the same to me back then."
"You—!" Linda was rendered speechless. Back when she first married into the Hughes, she had indeed used every excuse to lock them in the punishment room and starve them.
Linda never expected that, after all these years, karma would finally come back to bite her.
Hughes Corporation
Upon arriving at Hughes Corporation, Richard made an official announcement: he would be stepping down as CEO, with his daughter succeeding him.
The announcement left everyone momentarily stunned. "Richard's daughter?" they wondered. "Could it be his stepdaughter? Well, she was actually somewhat competent."
Mr. Hughes, if I may ask, which of your daughters will be taking over?
Everyone knows Richard's daughter from his first marriage was kicked out long ago—now he only dotes on his current wife's precious baby girl.
My eldest daughter, Skye Hughes.