I'm the Replaced Child Chapter 2

Inside the office, Leo was smiling gently at Maya. "From now on, we're family," he said softly.

Maya’s lips curved into a happy smile, and she nodded vigorously. "Yeah. You're the best brother, Leo." He patted her head affectionately.

I burst through the door and ran at them, shoving Maya away from him with all my might. "Get away from him! He's my brother!"

Maya stumbled back a few steps before catching her balance, her face a mask of hurt.

"Lily!" Leo gasped, rushing to Maya's side. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Maya just shook her head silently, but a huge, glistening tear welled in her eye, threatening to fall.

Leo spun around to face me, his expression clouded with disapproval. "Lily Sterling! Who taught you to push people like that? Is that what I've taught you?"

A wave of injustice washed over me, but I choked back the sobs. "Why are you replacing me?" I demanded.

My brother had the grace to look guilty, his eyes darting away from mine. That only fueled my anger. I pointed a trembling finger at Maya. "Trading your own sister for her? Is that something a real brother does? What would Mom and Dad say if they could see you now?"

Leo’s mouth opened and closed. Finally, a flash of anger crossed his face. "Why are you so selfish?" he shot back, his voice rising. "There are so many kids here waiting for a home. Does our family have to take up two spots?"

I didn't know how to answer that. I just stood there, my eyes wide, tears streaming down my face.

Just yesterday, Mr. and Mrs. Walters, a rich couple, had visited the orphanage. They saw Leo and me, thought we were beautiful children, and were touched that we were brother and sister. They wanted to adopt us both. Leo had been ecstatic. He'd told me we'd never be separated. He’d even excitedly started packing my favorite toys and blankets.

And Maya… she was the daughter of my mom's best friend. They had been on the same flight. Her mom didn’t make it either. So she came to St. Jude’s with us.

She had always orbited Leo, complaining about how lonely it was to be an only child. Leo had been nice to her, sure, but he’d always said that I was his number one, that no one could ever come before me.

Just yesterday, I’d seen him comforting her. "Don't worry, Maya," he'd said. "Someone will come adopt you soon, you'll see."

But he'd been quiet and moody after that. That night, just before we went to sleep, he’d asked me, "Lily, do you think… when we leave and Maya is all alone… do you think someone might bully her?"

A spike of alarm went through me. I wrapped my arms around his arm. "No way. Mrs. Gable won't let them."

He was silent for a few seconds, then spoke again. "But what if the people who adopt her aren't nice?"

Panic flared in my chest, and my voice rose without my meaning it to. "Mrs. Gable will check on her! Leo, that's not our problem."