I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RuueC2iHg
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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.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi4Ynh9VPv
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj6wYxm5D8
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Then—222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphI6gj9KVH
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“Ariana!”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKzErJTP0s
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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.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpHZgeGoIj
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM58QGPl51i
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qqiVMfXYB
1234 copyright protection218ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyKKcf7AJw 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.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKsIygOupw
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjkcrbAb59
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNmcmak63x
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4F4G60VbU
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtCKuXqQBx
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSD2GdcWeB
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She says it like it should mean something.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HxwEkeWBG
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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.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNRUxSPMAA
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP0BteR5v3
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QwB2vxARf
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtnqaYaFTA
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSpTO4XwXk
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciD4DcH16e
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBV2nbszvA
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwou1gXZSMJ
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3qzbXs3J3
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOhoHUAMpf
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhz42xvqfw
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdZetN1PuL
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC4jSYKXUN
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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.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT9XrmcEGO
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