They Replaced Me... Until the Government Wanted Me

Chapter 3

Lucas Parker paused, brows knitting together.

He probably thought I was being dramatic. His voice carried that familiar edge of exasperation.

"There's no need for this."

"I know how petty you can be. Once Lily's better, she'll move out."

I met their eyes steadily. "Let her stay."

"She's young. She needs someone to keep an eye on her. This way, you won't have to run back and forth all the time."

"And it's not like I've spent much time at home these past few years. The master bedroom's more comfortable—it makes sense for her to have it."

Bang.

Ethan Parker slammed the takeout container onto the coffee table, the sharp crack slicing through my words.

His jaw tightened. His whole expression darkened, like he was sure I was just playing games again.

Lily, full and drowsy, yawned and tugged on Ethan's sleeve. "Read me a story?"

Lucas quietly began clearing the table.

Ethan helped Lily back into bed, grabbed one of her favorite books, and sat beside her.

Same old scene. Like hundreds of nights before.

And once again, I was just... there. Out of place. Unwelcome.

I stood and grabbed my bag from the chair.

My throat felt tight as I said quietly, "I'm heading out."

No one said a word.

Lucas continued wiping the table. Ethan's voice stayed soft and steady as he read.

I walked toward the door, brushing past Ethan.

His head stayed low, eyes on the pages.

I couldn't see his face.

The last thing I heard before stepping out was his voice:

"And so, Snow White was cast out of her home…"

For some reason, it hit harder than it should've.

My mind flashed back to the night our parents died in the fire.

Ethan had wrapped his arms around me, voice raw and shaky, whispering:

"You still have us."

"As long as we're here, Paige... you'll always have a home."

Liar.

My nose stung before I even realized it.

I didn't stop walking.

That night, I went straight back to campus and threw myself into work. Buried myself in the lab, wrapping up the last phase of an experiment.

Seven days left.

Just one more week to finish everything—school, research, my personal mess.

I worked straight through the night.

By morning, after a short nap on the lab couch, I went home.

There was still the matter of clearing the master bedroom.

The housekeeper helped me move into one of the guest rooms, muttering under her breath the whole time.

"Since when does the outsider get the master bedroom, and the family ends up in the guest room?"

As I packed my books and clothes into a suitcase, I shrugged.

"It's fine. I won't be here much longer anyway."

Then came a voice—cold, sharp, cutting through the air like glass.

"Where do you think you're going?"