I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiEyMeScGD
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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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRReM7nJPA
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8nuvAS6Ro
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Then—203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwEn6jAXoy
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“Ariana!”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM0Gbc5Tad
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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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC763lpueZ2
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoyZwPgUNg
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyOG00UREM
1234 copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqA9kqAYy4 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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT76wdrqMy
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8ZOZBD520
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePzCvDsPbT
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiAXeFcgqu
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeBJ7gCb6R
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsceJwoH8X
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She says it like it should mean something.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFO76hlqtW
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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.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMHXF0B2T8
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4yJV04pbZ
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfosNnvwZLs
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJfBOYO9sH
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9vcctVCDA
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Htpfu8sMn
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbFrScDlrx
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SG39skrNU
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPScDJV6bph
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelqhWa6XaT
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMDTJRym0j
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXbGBQnFzU
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUmKTAUJir
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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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWjig25YOP
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