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.

huddled under a bridge, her body shutting down, waiting

she was fragile, his face all worry. Then Emery, his eyes burning

to make up for lost years, swearing she

waiting. He grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward

“Say sorry!” he barked.

her

just two years older, the one who used to get her, who’d look

were just cold and

Carmen said, flashing a sweet smile like she was brushing it off.

1/3

Chapter 1

surprise Aubree’s mad.” Her words sounded kind, but they left plenty of room

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

ran cold. “That

Carmen, they’d rather

Wilsons had never found

yanking her hand free as pain shot through her

all

say more-her silence hit harder than any comeback Aubree

shook his head, disappointed. He’d hoped

happened to

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

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

kept going. “For ten years while you were gone, Carmen held us together. Kept Mom and Dad from losing it. And when you

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

“My bad,” she muttered.

her family to care. No more falling

looking pained.

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

glint-she wanted all

all innocent.

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

her. “You deserve this.” He shot Aubree a cold look. “At least

stormed off, Carmen in his