I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPWZCU8aCM
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The hallway opens into a giant sunlit chamber — gold everywhere, white curtains fluttering, marble floors that look too clean for walking.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4vA7ix1v9
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob1j60n2Fz
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Then—152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKonYCbzjmd
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“Ariana!”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIR135g7DE
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The voice hits me like a flying textbook. I spin around, and there she is — tall, elegant, pretty enough to make shampoo commercials jealous. She’s dressed in this blue gown that looks like it costs more than my entire phone.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjNDLi5U6V
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn0kv75Plg
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgClNdKHMOb
1234 copyright protection148ＰＥＮＡＮＡduXLCkkpfT 尼For a split second, her expression flickers — relief? shock? Something tightens behind her polite smile. Then she walks toward me with that slow, graceful, slightly menacing energy of a cat pretending to be friendly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Gy2SGaxEK
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjWrcXLPUy
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVY7UHB4r0
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi11zYL2cXz
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUaqSOafAd
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLo8HnOAuh
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She says it like it should mean something.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpYnBNMHOh
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“Oh. Right. Clara.” I nod, pretending the name unlocks deep, emotional memories instead of absolutely nothing. “Totally remember you. You’re— great. Love the dress.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4w0mQG2Ew
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIKmjCBCsF
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdaWYM5ESW
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOKmynD789
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLZv9o2VDW
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNNKHnamL4
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDZMQix1Qr
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPhLoLagwJ
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEHQwAHRYe
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBF1hXixdn
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI2N4u2xAI
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUl1z6MKWu
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXyGBeRzzp
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And just like that, she turns, her gown whispering across the marble, leaving me standing there wondering what kind of historical fever dream I’ve just respawned into.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetKml9ki28
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