Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 1275

"Did she just say she pawned something for cash?" one of them whispered, disbelief coloring their tone.

"Her accent's thick, but we all heard it. She actually went and pawned Leona's bracelet. How low can you get? That's practically theft!"

"Now they're playing the sympathy card? Being poor doesn't give them the right to take what isn't theirs. Disgusting. If Leona calls the cops, some folks might think she's the bully here." "It's the 'I'm poor, so I'm right' mentality, huh? They better vanish from our sights."

At this point, Peyton was out cold, and Emma, too upset to continue her live stream, yanked the power cord from the wall.

The ambulance arrived half an hour later. Emma climbed in with her mother, her heart breaking as Peyton moaned in pain.

"Mom, it's okay. We'll be at the hospital soon," she reassured, her voice a soft cocoon in the chaos.

Peyton's response, a mere sigh of relief, eased her heart a little.

Only Emma was allowed to wait outside the emergency room. The icy chill of the hospital corridor seeped into her bones, probably from the nerves, making her feel nauseous.

She'd tried to ignore the fact that she was pregnant, but the online hate, coupled with her mother's sudden collapse, hit her hard.

Sitting down, she shivered, the night stretching endlessly before her, its cold gnawing at her until the emergency room doors finally opened.

The doctor, removing his mask, said, "It was a concussion caused by the fall, worsened by her already frail health. Ms. Emma, don't worry. But do keep her company; she's been quite distressed." Emma knew her mother's fear of facing strangers alone was immense.

Heading out today must have taken all her courage.

Beaconsfield was overwhelming, its brightness never meant for them Her mother, having come from a small village, always felt out of place, too intimidated to even make small talk.

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Surrounded by unfamiliarity and people like Leona, who looked down on her, her mother was under immense stress, silent about her struggles.

Tears streamed down Emma's face, unsure of what to do next.

But the reality of their situation hit when the doctor mentioned the hospital bill - five thousand dollars, a sum far beyond her reach.

The doctor's judgmental glance at

her trendy outfit didn't help,

mistaking her for someone living beyond their means, perhaps

assuming she dressed up to attract men.

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"I'll figure it out," Emma managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Once the nurse left, Emma returned to her seat, overwhelmed by the financial burden, feeling like she was drowning without hope for rescue.

Hands covering her face, she questioned her decision to leave their small town for Beaconsfield, seeking a better future that now seemed more like a harsh reality.

As her tears fell, unbeknownst to her, Leona's live stream was in turmoil.

Someone had replayed Peyton's admission of pawning the gold, igniting outrage.

"See, the country bumpkin admitted to pawning the gold. It must be Leona's bracelet. Shameless!"

"Emma's sudden fashion sense must be financed by that dirty money."

"Country folks, short-sighted and spiteful. Leona should steer clear of them, or she'll be dragged down too."

Leona hadn't expected her offhand

remark about a non-existent bracelet to hit so close to the mark She rarely bought gold, considering it a poor man's investment, preferring diamonds and jewels instead.

Yet her casual lie had unwittingly struck a nerve, as if fate itself was conspiring with her.