I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAabYW3Oj9w
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdixEXSOzpj
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItgM6oHvcg
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Then—221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAw4OpfPhk
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“Ariana!”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98p55GnAl6
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiC8WfY0Yv
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSInVRIiwqR
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGKzWZVzIA
1234 copyright protection217ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3Sa3cTdB8 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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKVqROVMVm
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i4rmhbpN6
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc3d5iYwDX
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjw2CprBiy
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4SGPRE5ou
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI8eSLR0ru
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She says it like it should mean something.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwqqPfp6dM
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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.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk7r8R5d0g
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpqn5UIesE
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O2uB4QCXZ
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yFeMnzXC4
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ7PuwKrXW
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MP5Zb7VqI
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGQFIOKuyq
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ7WStbSE2
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdTwe4c5W0
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnM83twtlH
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KKkb0NVkK
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43En2MArVK
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbcmCgLHsU
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkaJ3ArccG
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