Present

Author's POV

The air inside the palace suddenly felt heavy, like the silence before a thunderstorm.

Nick’s words still echoed across the marble floors: : “Let them see the queen they broke, standing taller than ever.”

Sophia looked at him. The mask on his face didn’t hide the softness in his voice—but it couldn't fully veil the steel either.

Chris narrowed his eyes.“Are you sure?”

Sophia didn’t answer. Not with words. She slowly picked up the broken teacup shards from the floor, dropped them in the dustbin, wiped her palms, and walked toward the massive golden mirror in the hallway.

In that reflection, she saw it. Not Dhwani. Not the girl who begged for acceptance. But Sophia.

She looked at herself, fixed her bun, and said quietly, , “They mocked a girl once. Let them face the woman now.”

Nick tilted his head slightly. Proud.

Chris gave a dry chuckle, ruffling her bun. “Bas yehi attitude chahiye.”

---

Main Hall - 10 minutes later

The once loud, gossiping group of ex-classmates now stood awkwardly on the plush velvet rug, beneath chandeliers bigger than their entire school hall.

They whispered among themselves, confusion painted on their faces.

"Is that Dhwani??"

"Bro... ye sach mein Dhwani thi?"

"Bhai, iska naam ab Sophia hai? Princess? Kya bakwaas hai yeh?"

"But how? She was... nothing back then."

Then, they heard the sound of heels. Slow. Confident. Echoing.

Sophia descended the staircase, dressed in a office attire looking like a dominating CEO

Behind her walked Chris, in full royal black. Zayan and Aarav followed, arms crossed.

And in the shadows, like her silent sword, stood Nick. Still masked. Still watching.

Pin-drop silence.

"Welcome"Sophia said, voice sharp. "Welcome to my mansion"

The classmates looked at each other. A few tried to smile.

One girl—Sia, the gossip queen of their class—stepped forward, fake laughter bubbling. "Arrey Dhwani—I mean—Sophia? This is your house? Are you playing royal dress-up now?”

Laughter rippled.

Nick took one step forward. Chris caught his shoulder. "Not yet"

Sophia raised a brow. “Still laughing, Sia? Just like you did when I cried in the girls' washroom after Vishal..."

Sia froze.

Everyone went quiet.

Sophia’s voice didn’t shake.  “Oh don’t worry. I remember everything. The betrayals. The whispers. The silence when I screamed.”

Another boy, Parth, tried to lighten the mood “It was just school drama, yaar. Tu toh bura maan gayi. Dekh kitni successful ho gayi ab.”

Chris’s voice snapped like a whip “Successful? Tum logon ne usse zinda jala diya tha. And now you want to call it drama?”

Zayan stepped forward, tone low"She’s here despite you. Not because of you.”

Sia scoffed, folding arms “Toh kya ab badla legi humein? Is this some revenge movie?”

Sophia smirked, stepping closer.

“Nahi Sia. Badla toh tab leti jab main tumhari tarah choti soch wali hoti. I’m not here to ruin you. I'm here to remind you...”

She leaned in, whispering in her ear, “...you were never strong enough to break me.”

Sia stepped back, face pale.

---

Later in the Study Room

The ex-classmates were escorted to the guest wing. Sophia stood at the balcony, hands clenched.

Chris entered, throwing a soft cushion at her “You were fire. Pure fire.”

Sophia shook her head “I don’t feel it. I feel like that school corridor is still chasing me.”

He walked over “Let it chase you. Just don’t let it catch you again.”

Sophia sat. Nick appeared beside her like smoke.

"You okay" he asked.

She looked at him. The mask. Always the mask.

“Will you ever show me your face?” she whispered.

Nick paused.“When you no longer need the mystery to feel powerful.”

Sophia gave a tired smile “That sounds like a line from some novel.”

Nick bent slightly, his gloved fingers brushing a loose hair strand behind her ear.

You’re writing your own novel now, Sophia,” he said softly. “One where you win.”

---

Meanwhile, in the Guest Wing

Sia threw her purse down.

“I don’t believe it. How did she become this?”

Parth sat on the royal bed. “Mujhe laga tha woh toh kisi foster house mein thi. She was broke.”

Another girl added, “Maybe she married a prince?”

But then someone pulled out a magazine from the side table.

"Sophia Valtoria: The Youngest CEO of Royal Holdings."

Sia read aloud, lips twitching.

“Royal Holdings?”

They looked at each other.

Finally, it clicked.

She wasn’t just rich.

She was born royal.

And they had no idea.

---

Back in Sophia’s Chamber

Chris, Zayan, and Aarav were lounging on the floor with snacks.

“Remember when Aarav cried watching DDLJ?” Zayan teased.

“Ek scene tha sirf,” Aarav groaned, “Tum log toh drama queens ho.”

Sophia laughed genuinely. For a moment, the weight lifted.

Then Nick said from the corner, “They know now.”

“Who knows?” Chris asked.

“Them.

About who she really is.”

Sophia stood. Her voice quiet.

“Then let the games begin.”

To be continued.

Hope you are gonna like this chapter too 😊