I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzaIlRJHXF
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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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDUXeLjhlE
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGhaThxye9
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Then—224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfVc6t88Kg
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“Ariana!”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUvNnDACdf
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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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReNY6QXkJZ
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjrgTAfIwp
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kJcP4Eu0a
1234 copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8S5tQ0VBB 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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡil7XhIpfYm
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETz2CgkN7e
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfdOAfBLvz
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wX3tpyuC8
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK1cRcjDER
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7att3TdfBj
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She says it like it should mean something.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLG9OGyCrG
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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.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLXLj2KXOJ
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAwvIXynxA
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRigWCpiLs
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1Tv6c1CoN
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI6S4aSTmA
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNds4LU5Hmk
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua1STdgzPn
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jin5CizBx
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoegAjvURHk
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2wrAhlFXQ
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3queSTQvHZ
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRq25kSc2B
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTmel9d8P0
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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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZNeqQBoaE
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