I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHrPXcRKm0
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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.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s3JXADf1s
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZkzXlpu7i
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Then—276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh39XsGmsJ
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“Ariana!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3BaRJTYal
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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.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjKYOj4BAW
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04i5nCFZKT
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwOYXPSZVk
1234 copyright protection272ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzDQQrJlbC 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.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMudqE6d0p
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BnBrgP8oD
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j5HFrBtZy
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCxbXOhaAY
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmQD7RUVPE
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjMCNL10fz
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She says it like it should mean something.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdevVgzcJHH
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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.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxcli8DUxH
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnBp3w5krC
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitkVDlSRhw
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX9OavrFgZ
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8WYKrHdrj
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsADbMoJIf
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa3IrQv1RI
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVeRAYbNxK
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzoJN2QuKb
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEgySuFvlj
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEDiCWjcuy
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLqLZvn2Ys
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJhyyutJLM
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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.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWlOshL20D
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