Figuring out why return ID is always 1?

app/Http/Controllers/BoardController.php

@@ -469,7 +469,8 @@ class BoardController extends Controller {
                         'read' => ''
                     ]);
 
-                return \Response::json($addTopic);
+                // return \Response::json($addTopic);
+                return $addTopic;
             }
             else {
                 return 'Permission denied.';