I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZjN54uUPa
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrkLIqPXJd
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFFRWHR1Pr
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Then—244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvj4D6hJ25
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“Ariana!”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJNwxBPjWj
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tfqGmPhdv
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImVvZnIFo2
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNouNroA2Di
1234 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0knrvyv5z 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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleIW1trByy
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMILfQIecRh
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo45Nwj767K
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgaXBAsv0A
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdPu7VZXIY
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB9sKkg9Zf
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She says it like it should mean something.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt36YxQKfda
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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.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0CJnxUWXk
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvm8fh4qnQ
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4APy4y0FDI
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqGkXQJKkz
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQBE8ajMcC
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT7d1wt2Dd
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AYEgB6XvI
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfB94K3LVU
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqK7cPhJPr
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP6WXJ1tja
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvet41cCbP5
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNa5avYsmm
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeyDaQbnrW
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9mPEUEes5
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