I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP2mSK6R0Q
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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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p78uXmUXe
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhAbPSJ7Gs
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Then—225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQyAEzLFLJ
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“Ariana!”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlcYVM9iAd
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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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lHWIJoERZ
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cDTjGcKGM
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyWHDxLEBm
1234 copyright protection221ＰＥＮＡＮＡAitdGhKuXj 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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBCLSHHnlr
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBzLyL7tuy
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r2IBPmGdu
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbLXM0BIII
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLluqCZJij
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuiFAvKyol
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She says it like it should mean something.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPg8Wjqwsj
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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.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE79VK1W7j
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3lUHpJNHV
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr9dosZScM
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEH4dyiDxJ
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv2MXwVqkc
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRPLcDbQNb
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKvoNF1kgJ
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iQUzIDjWN
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6mKXaXrAc
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgyBup0G3i
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5fFNSX8v9
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EXoJfy17m
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh6ub6WDFo
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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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFfL34gRIp
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