They Replaced Me... Until the Government Wanted Me

Chapter 14

After just a week in Norway, Ethan Parker suggested returning home.

With the Chinese New Year's Eve approaching, Lily Thompson insisted on staying until after the celebrations, claiming there were special events for the countdown.

Ethan instinctively opened his mouth to refuse.

Though his university had already begun its winter break, he had no work obligations this year.

Yet for some inexplicable reason, he felt as though something had been left behind during this trip abroad.

Seven days had passed, yet it felt like an eternity.

He pondered what excuse he could use to return home.

Before he could decide, Lucas Parker spoke up gently beside him, "If it's fun, we can always come back another time."

"I have company matters to attend to. I can’t afford further delays."

Lily, still caught up in the excitement of the trip, protested unhappily, "But you just told Paige recently that you wouldn’t be working on Chinese New Year's Eve or the Spring Festival!"

Lucas fell silent, as if caught in a lie, and turned his gaze out the window.

After a long pause, he frowned slightly, deliberately changing the subject. "I’ve told you many times—don’t call her ‘Paige.’ You should call her ‘sister.’"

Lily scoffed, tossed aside the plush toy she had just bought, and stormed out.

Ethan’s eyes lingered on the discarded teddy bear on the floor.

For some reason, it reminded him of the kind Paige had adored as a child.

What had Paige been like back then?

He strained to recall, but the memories eluded him.

All that surfaced was an image of Paige screaming and throwing tantrums, demanding that Lily get out.

Then came the older Paige—withdrawn, speaking less and less to him and Lucas, always claiming she was busy with school, rarely coming home.

Occasionally, when Lily ruined something of hers, she would lose her temper before forcing herself to calm down, murmuring a detached, "Never mind."

She began staying at the dormitory more often.

Whenever Ethan ran into her on campus, she would be laughing with classmates one moment, only to freeze the second their eyes met, her expression turning tense and uneasy.

Ethan picked up the discarded plush toy.

Suddenly, it struck him—he had lost something.

When had it started?

When had the willful, affectionate Paige disappeared?

Lucas’s cool voice pulled him from his thoughts. "I’m flying back tonight."

"Since Lily wants to stay, you can keep her company."

Ethan looked up sharply, catching a flicker of unease in Lucas’s eyes—mirroring his own.

Almost instinctively, Ethan blurted out, "I’m returning tonight too."

Lucas said nothing else, silently packing his luggage.

They landed in Northridge the following evening.

On the way home, Ethan’s temples throbbed incessantly, an inexplicable tension tightening in his chest.

When they arrived, Paige was nowhere in sight.

The housekeeper greeted them at the door.

Handing over his coat, Ethan feigned casualness. "Hasn’t Paige come home yet?"