I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPTnQRwGiV
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFE4ye67Jn
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1EJbPDFfD
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Then—100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHQTbRlNk6
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“Ariana!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFKzBjico4
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GLQPk7FG9
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kwt0hZLvG
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2ywIQnQcK
1234 copyright protection96ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwzKH3F3VL 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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ARodKo8Fq
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50NnNuDG4Q
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF089eZ4vXm
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOAHpR0pEu
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrYNQYySqH
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNvqxE80OH
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She says it like it should mean something.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xre1izgm4
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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.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKqVWSxFFO
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVEWMIywk3
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL5r1Zs0YT
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqITnmhp3NF
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjAxfGKV7d
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I8AyFP389
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkS7hx4ngL
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7hA0dg0Jd
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZpstX2pPa
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U9XIBHvDF
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Y1NVsIEM
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ16YWjvWB
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLeLmMmEvo
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeS3SRm4Na
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