I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNi131TfGd
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TYOOwJg3c
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEudEDNNoQN
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Then—224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxf4qPA4kk
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“Ariana!”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgns5BGV026
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd6OKB4ckQ
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAYIIDbJYg
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEsQpBFvdQ
1234 copyright protection220ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXdCeXuDH3 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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSEeFjvnZV
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwKtyWaOT3
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SA5TIRmhd
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIFW290G1W
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhniEZUMmH
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGURgiDdK6k
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She says it like it should mean something.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVrjC0ev25
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDrSc6xIIQ
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsZd2Znm7j
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOMDQNstQU
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVSRbaNFsQ
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEshAQsvVTh
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MGAEx73gm
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQvyonZ98c
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaiqLNK58Z
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h52psONWI
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDM8uOzmST
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo54pEADKwU
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLjjUhmiox
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbQThwzqSo
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE062LoIC7e
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