The Queen They Buried

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

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The pain of her body giving out still haunted her when a sharp, familiar voice sliced through the fog. “Aubree, you’re a total letdown!”

Aubree Miller’s vision cleared, and there was Emery, her fourth brother, shooting her a look that could kill.

Her heart skipped. ‘Am I… back? Five years ago, the day Carmen got named heir? The day my whole world crashed?’

That day, Carmen played them all. She set Aubree up, making everyone think she was so jealous of Carmen’s inheritance. that she’d pushed her down the stairs to get rid of her.

Right on cue, her second brother, Daxton, swooped in like a hero, saving Carmen from anything worse than a fright.

Emery showed up next, not even listening to her side, demanding she own up.

Aubree swore she was innocent-she even made a desperate vow-but they thought she was just dodging blame.

In the end, they made her apologize in front of everyone and beg Carmen’s forgiveness. To “fix” Carmen’s scare, her parents gave Aubree’s share of the family money to her.

In one day, Aubree became Rithol City’s biggest joke.

And that was only the beginning.

Carmen, with her sugary smile, would say, “I wish I was as pretty as Aubree.” Next thing they knew, Aubree’s face was scarred from a random “allergy.”

She couldn’t look better than Carmen-it’d make her feel bad-so Aubree had to be ruined.

Aubree’s art was her everything, but Carmen wanted to “be that good too.” So, every painting Aubree poured her soul into got Carmen’s name on it.

Aubree? Branded a faker and kicked out of school, her teachers’ disappointed glares cutting deep.

It didn’t stop there. Carmen’s weak heart meant she couldn’t move much, so to keep things “fair,” Aubree was starved, forced to waste away beside her.

Weak, hungry, and crushed, she still got disowned and thrown out like garbage.

under a bridge, her body shutting

like she was fragile,

who’d found her, promising to make up for lost years,

done waiting. He grabbed her wrist,

“Say sorry!” he barked.

in her wrist snapped

Emery, the brother just two years older, the one who used to get

were

sweet smile like she was brushing

1/3

Chapter 1

Aubree’s mad.” Her words sounded kind, but

“If I’d known you’d turn out this rotten, I’d have told Mom and

ran cold. “That is it,

crossed Carmen, they’d

wished the Wilsons had never

pain shot through her wrist. Her

all pity.

more-her silence

disappointed. He’d hoped she’d

what’s happened to you?” he

her coming back to the Wilsons-tough, sweet, like a ray

the family money. You think she’s stealing your share, so you shoved

losing it. And when you

smirk. ‘Huh, news to me that

“My bad,” she muttered.

they thought-she was done expecting her

looking pained.

a mistake. I’ll fix it.” Her real

with a smug glint-she wanted all the family’s love for

off, all innocent. “Aubree, relax.

his heart melting. ‘That’s so you,

feel bad,” he whispered to her. “You deserve this.” He shot Aubree a cold look. “At least you’ve

off, Carmen in his arms, throwing Aubree a final