I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF4SFfosRS
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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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIm32LjJUf
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ8dopEEGY
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Then—60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBLqLWsXQo
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“Ariana!”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHe8A7ktLq
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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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gdWsu6DzT
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTkzCVN38t
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnlFTq7xJY
1234 copyright protection56ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hoh9axze5 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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvBawnpinG
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRn7pyvCXg
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyAA1H4IAs
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiVtQzHkTg
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo65PCxzKq
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM07uZuUoB
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She says it like it should mean something.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvELZDsvou
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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.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFmbWgbA9A
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDZieF2npx
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfpx8SZVOS
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx01GHRMC2
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFUbdFSf8P
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXShItKCwEC
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa8Pxud2op
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw1VR51D1e
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQgZDkil7I
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdwPoiZjx4
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJqazIbsPq
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHfl2ALtlQ
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLDui6Fv2h
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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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTp41w4kUi
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