“Look closely. Doesn’t this person resemble you?”

This was Katelyn’s simplest test. Ordinarily, when people suddenly encountered a doppelganger, their initial reaction—usually shock or disbelief—was unmistakable and genuine. Such natural, unguarded responses were beyond the skill of even the most accomplished actors.

Katelyn saw that very expression on Sophia’s face. Her eyes widened, filled with confusion.

She stared at Katelyn, still perplexed. “Why is my picture on your phone?” she asked. “We’ve only just met today.”

For a brief moment, Katelyn found herself speechless. She studied Sophia, her expression thoughtful, but saw no signs of imperfection on her face.

“Miss Marshall, isn’t it obvious? We’ve been searching for the woman in this photo, who looks incredibly like you. Isn’t that a bizarre coincidence?”

Katelyn then considered the tattoo, and two possibilities crossed her mind. Perhaps Sophia had some sort of skin-covering tool, like a mask, that could cleverly hide the tattoo. Or maybe Sophia and Ashlyn were distinct individuals, possibly identical twins, which would explain their uncanny resemblance.

Katelyn leaned toward the second possibility and took a step forward, asking more cautiously, “Miss Marshall, do you have siblings? Has there ever been any mention of you having a twin sister?”

Sophia’s response was filled with even more bewilderment.

“I’m an only child. My father has never spoken of me having a sister. But what’s with this photo? How can two people have the exact same face? It’s unthinkable.”

Shock was evident on Sophia’s face, reflecting genuine disbelief. She had never heard her parents mention anything like this. Could it be possible that she had a sister somewhere out there that she didn’t even know of?

As Katelyn slipped her phone into her pocket, a playful smirk appeared on her lips. Her demeanor abruptly shifted, her expression turning fierce as she swung a sudden, direct punch toward Sophia’s face!

Katelyn’s punch sliced through the air, snapping sharply as it went. Executing a hook punch, she knew its force could easily knock out an adult male with a single hit.

Sophia, taken aback, stood rooted to the spot, her eyes wide and body rigid, watching the punch halt a mere centimeter from her face. In that instant, Sophia’s breathing and heartbeat seemed to stop, her eyelashes trembling uncontrollably. Just in time, Katelyn withdrew her fist, a look of confusion coloring her expression as she met Sophia’s eyes.

Both women had trained with the same master and possessed nearly identical fighting skills. For warriors like them, their bodies would instinctively choose to counterattack or dodge when faced with danger, reactions that were automatic and beyond their conscious control.

A shadow of doubt crept into Katelyn’s mind. Could it be possible that this woman and Sophia truly weren’t the same person?

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