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.

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

moment. She saw Daxton cradling Carmen like she was fragile, his

promising to make up for lost years, swearing she was

was done waiting. He grabbed her wrist, yanking her

“Say sorry!” he barked.

sting in her

years older, the one who used

his eyes were just cold

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

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Chapter 1

blood. No surprise Aubree’s mad.” Her words sounded kind, but they left plenty of room

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

blood ran cold. “That

crossed Carmen, they’d rather she

had never

as pain shot through her wrist. Her voice came out rough. “Y’all seriously think

softened, all pity. “Oh,

to say more-her silence hit harder than

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

to you?” he

to the Wilsons-tough, sweet, like a ray of sunshine trying to warm

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 you

from losing it. And when you showed up? She

bitter smirk. ‘Huh, news to me that Carmen

“My bad,” she muttered.

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

looking pained. “Aubree, I’m not

fix it.” Her real screw-up was coming back

eyes flickered with a smug glint-she wanted all the

it off, all innocent. “Aubree, relax. You said sorry.

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

this.” He shot Aubree a cold look. “At

in his arms, throwing