I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WoVl1u091
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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.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUxGVCExWY
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDg8WuGIkQ
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Then—227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFehLhXN0r
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“Ariana!”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJC0pIUIJ3
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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.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR45CyrU19
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFpqk3vXEy
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHjfOF2wye
1234 copyright protection223ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UezBI1VeX 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.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRHGrJEJFI
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRAcRALGE6
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68lHGcdF5L
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxhwM40z1y
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOprSZdLvV3
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RfPMefbBX
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She says it like it should mean something.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfJxbENFKE
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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.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJp6FvyzTv
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ754uiOLdxQ
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2ZfSp3PQg
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWNMcpTaqL
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTNOteTIpM
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpLkQUOQYM
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjB6G3hi3V
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeafvJQN1Ib
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZeT83A73h
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ000aUnijT
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhlevOzCtz
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTwqEZaFpc
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyD54znBEg
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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.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKQU8OJ4Jg
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