They Swapped Me Away, Then Begged Me to Return Chapter 02

They Swapped Me Away, Then Begged Me to Return Chapter 02

I gripped the handrail and dragged myself up the stairs, pushing open my bedroom door without knocking.

My mom was hauling my pillows and blanket out into the hallway. The old star-shaped nightlight I’d had since childhood got tossed carelessly into a cardboard box beside her feet.

I sprinted over and grabbed the lamp, my hands shaking so bad I could barely hold it.

My dad had built it himself. He’d stroked my hair and told me I’d sleep like I was under a real sky full of stars every night.

“What are you doing?” My mom glanced over her shoulder at me without a hint of remorse. “Perfect timing—come pack up all your bedside junk. The contractors are coming first thing tomorrow to take measurements.”

I stared at my ransacked bed. “Where am I supposed to sleep?”

She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “There’s a folding cot in the study. You can crash on the couch.”

The study had no windows at all. It only held an old military cot my dad used for midday office naps, stacked floor to ceiling with dusty paperwork, and half the overhead lights were burned out.

I stood frozen in the doorway, remembering how terrified I’d been of the dark as a little kid.

My dad had stayed up all night stringing a row of tiny nightlights along my bedroom walls back then. He’d said, “My daughter’s room should be made exactly how she likes it.”

I’d believed my bedroom would always be mine, forever.

My dad walked in carrying renovation blueprints, tapping a finger against the wall paint swatch. “Cream white’s way more sophisticated than this childish mess we’ve got now.”

I lunged forward to stop him from tearing out the nightlights, and he scowled, yanking my hand away roughly.

“You’re leaving for another world in a week—why cling to useless old junk?”

My hand had already been swollen from hives, and slamming it against the wall sent a sharp numb ache all the way up my arm.

My mom stepped forward instinctively, and for half a second I thought she’d help me up.

Instead, she blocked my dad’s path and shot me a cold glare. “Don’t hit her. If her rash gets worse and leaves marks, the new Leah will throw a fit when she arrives.”

I stiffened where I stood.

My dad bit back his frustration, jabbing a finger in my direction. “You’re already halfway out the door, and you’re still making trouble.”

I dropped my head and laughed quietly, my eyes burning behind my lids. “Doesn’t the other Leah have parents of her own? A boyfriend, too? She talks to you all hours of the night—didn’t any of that strike you as weird?”

The living room went silent in an instant. My mom’s face darkened instantly. “Leah, how can you be so cruel?”

My dad’s voice turned icy. “It’s a blessing our family gets help from someone this talented.”

Evan walked through the front door right then, a paper bag of breakfast in hand. He spotted me standing in the hallway, my face still covered in fading hives, and furrowed his brows.

“Why are you two fighting again?” He pressed a warm mug of milk into my palms. “You had a bad allergic reaction last night, drink something warm.”

My fingertips brushed the hot ceramic, and tears threatened to spill over again.

Once, when I’d pulled all-nighters at work until my stomach ached, he’d handed me milk just like this to soothe me.

I’d thought at the very least, he’d remember how easily I got sick. His next words shattered that fragile hope entirely.

“Don’t bother coming into the office today. I already put in a long-term leave request for you.”

I lifted my head to stare at him. “What does that mean?”

Evan avoided meeting my eyes. “You won’t be around here in seven days anyway. It’d be irresponsible to leave your project hanging.”

I pulled out my phone and opened the company group chat—my name had been removed from the project roster entirely.

My supervisor’s message sat at the top, sent thirty minutes prior.

[Leah, your family notified us of a severe medical emergency, and you are no longer able to fulfill your role.]

[Your resignation paperwork has been processed; please return your work ID today.]

Every single word stabbed at my temples like a needle.

“Who sent that in?”

My mom pressed her lips into a thin line. “I asked Evan to handle it for you. You’re leaving soon—no sense hogging a position you won’t need.”

My dad cut in right after her. “Leave with some dignity, don’t embarrass our whole family.”

My fingers trembled around my phone.

I’d spent three grueling years climbing the ladder to earn that stable job, and they’d tossed it aside without a second thought just because “I wouldn’t be around.”

Evan reached out to pull me against his chest. “Leah, don’t take it this hard. Once you come back, I’ll take care of everything financially.”

I stepped backward away from him.

“Do you honestly think I’ll ever come back here?”