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.

starving, she ended up huddled under a

she was fragile, his face all worry.

found her, promising to make up

waiting. He grabbed her wrist, yanking

“Say sorry!” he barked.

her

older, the one who

his eyes were just cold

sweet smile like she was brushing it off. “I mean,

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Chapter 1

sounded kind, but they left plenty of room for

a finger in Aubree’s face. “If I’d known you’d turn out this rotten, I’d have told Mom and Dad to

ran cold. “That is

she ever crossed Carmen, they’d rather she

had never found her at

shot through her wrist. Her

softened, all

to say more-her silence hit harder than any comeback Aubree

head, disappointed. He’d hoped she’d own her mistake,

happened to you?”

still remembered her coming back to the Wilsons-tough, sweet, like a ray of sunshine trying to

straight? You’re pissed Carmen’s getting a cut of the family money. You think she’s stealing your share, so

Kept Mom and Dad from losing it. And when you showed up? She

a bitter smirk. ‘Huh, news to

“My bad,” she muttered.

expecting her

played it sweet, looking

chuckle. “A mistake’s a mistake. I’ll fix it.” Her real

eyes flickered with a smug glint-she wanted

waved it off, all innocent.

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

bad,” he whispered to her. “You deserve this.” He shot Aubree a cold look. “At

in his arms, throwing Aubree a final disgusted