I turn the corner and nearly trip over my own very dramatic gown.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AEKXu6FWQ
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoyw8isddw
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It’s quiet. Too quiet. Like the air’s waiting for me to mess something up.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9omwjdsMX
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Then—190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SF6qOlJsn
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“Ariana!”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWsT490E6y
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWT9RPbOSL
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She’s staring at me like I just crawled out of her favorite nightmare.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3htVESMCfz
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“Um… hi?” I say, waving like an idiot.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpAv70sthP
1234 copyright protection186ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPyyzyxjet 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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp0tQYmgVY
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“You’re… back,” she says, voice all soft and trembling. “After all this time.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj0vu6Gw5T
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“Yeah,” I say. “Back from… the bathroom?”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWjSTgSXLW
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Her eyebrows pinch together. “The bathroom?”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDvrui7NBj
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“Never mind,” I mutter. “Long story. Anyway, you are…?”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZJulNiKBT
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Her smile twitches, just for a second. “It’s me. Clara.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZqWK5Ngt5
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She says it like it should mean something.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoqVKSlpb8
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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.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8h2yCUMte
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Clara’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’ve changed,” she says. “You used to… not say things like that.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVU8mvkB6R
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“Yeah, well,” I shrug, “new skincare routine. Improves personality.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZuMAcOL2z
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Something unreadable passes through her gaze — half confusion, half… irritation? She hides it fast with another sweet smile.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLQzPGm1PR
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“Well, everyone will be so happy to see you,” she says smoothly. “They thought you’d been… taken forever.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoirwh0XfSq
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“Taken? Like… kidnapped?”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngFbVxWq9X
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Her eyes flick to the floor, then back up. “Something like that.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVfSkVfWTJ
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Cool. Great. Totally normal. I love conversations that sound like plot twists.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapEYKleRgC
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“So,” I say brightly, “since I’m apparently Ariana, kidnapped royalty, and you’re my… sister?”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbafrLa9OOT
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Clara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Half-sister,” she corrects softly.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopugDqFLNS
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Ouch. The “half” lands like a dagger disguised as a word.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtnvKExOKb
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“Right,” I say. “Of course. Half. Wouldn’t want to overclaim family.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUHdr1NbE6
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Her lips curve slightly — too polite, too practiced. “Come,” she says. “Father will want to see you.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0YalNT8r7
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn5RVkAz1W
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