I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeTykc35st
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ty0xhvyw6
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIxors8QDK
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Then—223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSmGyCDjde
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“Ariana!”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c4MaqPcHj
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzavIArG1s
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71hLzpswnw
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWU7VDHysR
1234 copyright protection219ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjVrAWH7jA 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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtHfDhBPpL
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewYHXFeOV2
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WBqB4vN04
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m68FPzz03
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScf0rq9o6Y
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofpMkBAIfV
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She says it like it should mean something.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTgB6aHhY6
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR17jZp0a4A
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4LWvt92Bz
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoDbSTUf5J
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7syvrxcIt
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYUFGKJpcC
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQwHUR5GLT
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO8Gh6vQza
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx4cGAYVxA
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerPYHBGuP6
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni5jZvfy58
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBeYzZjnch
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpdD42kpj3
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eB1Bugm4L
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoNafbjYZH
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