I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzPd0i7AnE
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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.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpxM2Nua0h
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOto0G0L3v
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Then—223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj8Svi4dIN
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“Ariana!”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kuVnuloWU
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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.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2VaU9e3U6
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhodvca6Sw
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMnowWjMLu
1234 copyright protection219ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYXCr8ufWB 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.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hu3GhDqIl
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlZadPxaWs
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb1zkLCBIm
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbij5zsIZmB
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfpXlOMEvA
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPIWN8pnxx
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She says it like it should mean something.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyocl2Ny1D
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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.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqUADcqNo5
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6WzbsSrJ9
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkOxRR7Hzy
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC60UWfeQt
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCUU5IPqCe
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM22rRwoaN
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iTLmEBeml
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoViEwF4Sb
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLPbtkGr0S
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuGD1ZyWX3
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5bd7fSMWp
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFjGeJOmRp
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFghv0QQeIp
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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.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhJ9Y8WaCG
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