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.

a bridge, her body shutting down, waiting

Daxton cradling Carmen like she was

who’d found her, promising to make up for

He grabbed her wrist,

“Say sorry!” he barked.

in her wrist snapped

one who used to get her,

were just

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

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Chapter 1

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

known you’d turn out this rotten, I’d have told Mom and Dad to leave you

cold. “That is it, isn’t

ever crossed Carmen, they’d rather she was

Wilsons had never found her

her teeth, yanking her hand free as pain shot through her wrist. Her voice came out rough. “Y’all seriously think I

eyes softened, all

say more-her silence hit harder than any

disappointed. He’d hoped

to you?”

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

Carmen’s getting a cut of the family money. You think she’s stealing your share, so you shoved her down the stairs.

from losing it. And when you showed up? She tiptoed around you so you wouldn’t feel left out. What’s

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

“My bad,” she muttered.

done expecting her family to

sweet, looking pained. “Aubree, I’m not

fix it.” Her real screw-up

smug glint-she wanted all

she waved it off, all innocent. “Aubree, relax. You said

close, his heart melting. ‘That’s so

“You deserve this.” He shot Aubree a cold look. “At least you’ve got some

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