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.

she ended up huddled under a bridge, her body shutting down, waiting

like she was fragile,

brothers who’d found her, promising to

grabbed her wrist, yanking

“Say sorry!” he barked.

her wrist snapped

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

eyes were just

said, flashing a sweet smile like she was brushing it off. “I mean, I’m a Wilson on paper, but

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Chapter 1

words sounded kind,

jabbed a finger in Aubree’s face. “If I’d known you’d turn out this rotten,

ran cold. “That

Carmen, they’d rather she

the Wilsons had never found

her teeth, yanking her hand free as pain shot through her wrist. Her voice came out

eyes softened, all pity.

more-her silence hit harder than any comeback Aubree

disappointed. He’d hoped she’d own her mistake, not dodge

what’s happened to

like a ray of sunshine

burned a hole through her. “You want it straight? You’re pissed Carmen’s getting a cut of the family money. You think she’s stealing your share, so

together. Kept Mom and Dad from losing it. And when you showed up? She tiptoed around you so you wouldn’t feel left

twisted into a bitter smirk. ‘Huh, news to me

“My bad,” she muttered.

what they thought-she was done expecting her family to care. No more

looking pained. “Aubree, I’m not

a mistake. I’ll fix it.” Her real screw-up was coming

flickered with a smug glint-she wanted all

all innocent. “Aubree, relax. You said sorry. We’re

close, his heart melting. ‘That’s so you, Carmen-always keeping

deserve this.” He shot Aubree a

he stormed off, Carmen in his arms, throwing Aubree a