They Replaced Me... Until the Government Wanted Me

Chapter 2

The call ended, and the cold wind made my eyes sting.

On the way to the hospital, I stopped to pick up ingredients, rushed home to cook, packed everything neatly into containers, and headed straight back out.

The private hospital room had a tiny dining table—just big enough to squeeze three people around it. Ethan Parker looked up when I walked in.

Before he could say anything, I grabbed a small bowl, went to the window, and sat on the ledge to eat alone.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of something—surprise, maybe—on his face.

But it disappeared just as fast.

He turned his attention back to Lily Thompson, carefully ladling out soup-filled rice balls for her and placing a spoon in her hand. The chairs looked stiff and uncomfortable, so Lucas grabbed a pillow and tucked it behind her back.

Lily, still a sugar-loving kid, devoured the strawberry-filled rice balls like they were candy. She ate too fast and started coughing.

I instinctively looked over.

Lucas immediately patted her back while Ethan got up to pour her a glass of warm water.

"Slow down," Lucas said with a laugh. "Nobody's taking them from you."

Their voices were full of warmth, mock-scolding her like proud, doting dads.

It was a familiar scene—painfully so.

Once upon a time, I'd been the one in Lily's place.

I forgot to look away.

Ethan must've felt me staring. After handing Lily the water, he glanced in my direction.

The moment our eyes met, his expression turned cold.

Like a door slamming shut.

It hit harder than I expected.

I dropped my gaze and took another bite, only to choke on the filling. My throat tightened, and a coughing fit took over before I could stop it.

Ethan didn't even flinch. "You want water too?"

His tone was flat. Almost bored.

I bit down the urge to say something—anything—and forced myself to stop coughing.

Laughter filled the room again, light and easy.

Lily perked up mid-bite. "We learned about the Northern Lights in literature class last week!"

"They said you can see them in Norway during winter. I really wanna go someday!"

Ethan reached over and ruffled her hair. "Why wait? We'll take you this year."

Lucas grinned. "Perfect timing. We've both got vacation at the end of the year. It's a plan."

My fingers trembled as I gripped my bowl. Maybe it was the heat. Or maybe not. Either way, I nearly dropped it.

Within thirty minutes, they had flights booked.

Lily squealed and flung herself into their arms, beaming.

Then, as if suddenly remembering I was there, she looked over. "Paige, you'll come too, right?"

I hesitated—then realized this was my chance.

"I can't. In a few days, I'm leaving with Professor Knox—"

Ethan cut me off, his voice curt. "We don't need a rundown of your plans."

The words I'd been holding—I might not be back for a long time—died in my throat.

Then, as if something just occurred to him, he turned to me, his eyes cool.

"Lily's getting discharged tomorrow."

"Since you're the one who hurt her, it wouldn't be right for her to stay somewhere unfamiliar."

"I'll ask the housekeeper to prep the guest room—"

"I'll clear out the master bedroom for her," I said, cutting in before he could finish.

Ethan froze mid-sentence.

He looked at me for a long second. Confused. Suspicious. Almost like he didn't believe what he'd just heard.

"…What?"