They Replaced Me... Until the Government Wanted Me

Chapter 18

Ethan Parker's lips parted, but it took him a long moment before any sound came out. As if trying to reassure himself, he repeated Lily Thompson’s words:

"She’ll... she’ll come back eventually."

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

Lucas Parker’s eyes burned red, a sheen of moisture gathering in them. His hand trembled violently as he reached out, suddenly gripping Ethan’s collar with desperate force.

"She left with Ryan Collins!"

"I checked the school surveillance footage—she dragged her suitcase and walked out with him!"

Lucas’ voice shook harder, his grip tightening until it nearly choked Ethan.

"Do you understand? She left with Ryan!"

"All your efforts—gone! She followed Ryan!"

"Do you even know what Ryan’s going to do? Do you?!"

Breathing grew labored, but Ethan remained frozen.

After the crushing weight of fear and despair, all that remained was a hollow, bottomless numbness.

How could he not know where Ryan was going?

As an associate professor and faculty advisor, Ethan had personally reviewed—along with senior colleagues—the final list of participants for the ten-year confidential medical research program.

Ryan’s name was on it.

And the research had officially begun days ago—last Saturday.

Where Ryan had gone was obvious.

Ethan staggered to his feet, moving like a ghost toward the door.

"I’ll go find her. I’ll bring her home."

"Tomorrow’s Chinese New Year’s Eve... She always stays home for the holidays."

Lucas’ face twisted in agony, his voice breaking.

"Why did you have to listen to Lily? Why did you insist on going to see the Northern Lights in Norway?!"

"We were supposed to go to Mohe—Paige agreed! We were supposed to go there!"

"If we had... if we had..."

"Maybe she wouldn’t have wanted to leave..."

Ethan said nothing.

He reached the bedroom door when Lucas’ raw, shattered cry tore through the silence behind him.

"Stop pretending! Ethan, how long has it been since you even cared about Paige?!"

Ethan stopped dead.

His movements felt sluggish, delayed, as if his body refused to obey. Slowly, he turned, his gaze empty as it settled on Lucas.

"And you? Have you cared?"

The fury and grief on Lucas’ face froze.

Then, slowly, he crumpled, sinking to the floor, hands covering his face as his shoulders shook.

They were the same.

Neither was innocent. Neither could escape blame.

The snow in North City had fallen relentlessly for days.

Late at night, the streets lay buried under thick layers of white. Ethan hadn’t even remembered to grab his coat when he left the house, heading straight for Professor Knox.

The professor sighed. "It’s not that I won’t tell you."

"Aside from those directly involved in the research, no one is permitted to know the exact location or progress of the program."

"I only escorted Paige and the others to Nan City, shared one last meal with them."

"Once they departed for the research facility, my access ended."

"And the facility itself? It’s almost certainly not in Nan City."