They Replaced Me... Until the Government Wanted Me

Chapter 15

The housekeeper shook her head. "Miss Paige hasn't come back."

Ethan Parker frowned. "It's been over a week. Tomorrow is the festival—how could she still not be home?"

The housekeeper had served the Parker family for years and privately sympathized with Paige. Her tone turned cool. "I don’t know."

Ethan was about to press further when Lily Thompson, impatient, rolled her eyes discreetly and clung to his arm, whining,

"She’ll come back eventually."

"Big brother, forget about that."

"Come read my new storybook with me tonight."

Suddenly, irritation flared in Ethan. He remembered how Lily had sneered Paige’s name in Norway and now showed no concern for her prolonged absence. How much sincerity was there in all her chirpy calls of "sister"?

As the housekeeper turned back toward the kitchen, she muttered under her breath,

"Since the master doesn’t care about Miss Paige anymore, why bother asking?"

The words struck Ethan like an invisible thorn, sharp and sudden.

Lily pouted. "She’s a grown woman—it’s not like she’s lost."

For some reason, anger surged. Ethan abruptly shook off her grip.

Without a word, he strode upstairs, his face icy. Behind him, Lily’s tearful voice wailed,

"Big brother! Did I say something wrong? Aren’t you going to read to me?"

He didn’t turn back, only snapped coldly, "You’re in sixth grade. Can’t you read on your own?"

Lily burst into sobs.

In the past, Ethan would have immediately softened, coaxing her. When she cried, he gave in to every demand, believing that denying her would betray his parents’ memory—and the student they had cherished most.

Four years. For four years, he had indulged Lily, bending over backward to atone for the life lost in the fire with his parents.

But what had he done for Paige? His own sister?

Reaching the upper floor, Ethan paused outside Paige’s bedroom.

He pushed the door open. The room was empty.

Stepping inside, he realized with a jolt how much she had taken with her.

A creeping unease wrapped around him, like invisible vines tightening around his throat, making it hard to breathe.

Sinking onto the couch, he checked his phone—no missed calls, no texts from Paige. Her social media was silent.

Why wasn’t she home?

Scrolling through his contacts, he finally gave in and called Professor Knox, Paige’s advisor.

The professor answered promptly, his voice steady.

Ethan danced around the subject awkwardly before forcing out the question, "Has Paige… caused you any trouble lately?"

Professor Knox sounded startled. "Paige? How could she possibly cause trouble?"

Ethan’s temple throbbed. "She went with you on that trip, didn’t she? Hasn’t she returned yet?"

A long silence followed. When the professor spoke again, his voice was heavy with sorrow.

"Ethan, what kind of joke is this?"

"I did escort her there. But how could she ever come back with me?"