Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 1283

Five days later, Peyton finally got to leave the hospital.

During her stay, Peyton had been wracked with guilt, especially after hearing that Emma had paused her live streaming to stay by her side and had even borrowed money to make ends meet. Peyton, already emotionally fragile, broke down in tears upon hearing this. Seeing her mother so distraught, Emma felt a pang of sorrow. She gently patted Peyton's back, trying to comfort her. "Mom, please don't cry. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you to Beaconsfield without thinking it through. I realize now it was a mistake. How about we go back to town? I'll look for a new job, and about the baby... I'll handle it."

Peyton stiffened, not ready to agree with Emma's plan. She felt a deep sense of anguish, as if she was crushing her daughter's dreams. It reminded her of the time when Emma wanted to go to college. Peyton, out of selfish desire to keep her close, had hidden the financial aid letter. Now, it felt like history was repeating itself.

Peyton's heart sank even further, but she tried to console Emma. "We don't need to rush back. We've already bought these cosmetics; let's at least use them for a few days. Emma, forget all the nonsense I've said before. After facing death, everything seems trivial. As long as you're happy, that's what matters. We've got a place to stay, and with only a couple of weeks left, let's see this competition through. Once you've got the prize money, we can head back home without any regrets."

Deep down, Peyton yearned to return to their small town. But remembering Emma all dolled up and radiant, her heart ached anew. She had never seen such an expression on Emma's face. She had given everything she could to support her daughter's dreams, but life was often cruel and unforgiving. They were just two among countless souls striving hard without direction or becoming weary along the journey. Luck had never been on their side.

With these thoughts, Peyton's heart felt heavy. She held onto Emma's hand with her calloused fingers, afraid to let go. Emma knew they could only settle their debts after the competition ended. Even if they wanted to leave, it wasn't feasible yet.

Returning to their room, seeing the

live streaming setup felt like stepping into a different era, though it had only been five days. Facing the camera again seemed daunting, fearing the return of ridicule and shame. Glancing at the cosmetics on the window sill, her eyes w

up. Those must have eyes welled

cost a fortune,

not to mention the outfits they hadn't had the chance to wear. A

flicker of resolve crossed her eyes.

"Mom, did you like my look that day?"

Seeing her daughter's spirits lift, Peyton couldn't bear to criticize. Despite her belief that such attire was too revealing for their conservative town, she smiled. "Of course, you looked stunning, Emma. It was the first time I saw you so beautiful."

With a deep breath, Emma washed

her face and started applying

makeup again. "I can't let these

cosmetics go to waste. Even if we're leaving, I'll finish the live streams."

it for me,

These next ten days, I'll do it

to enjoy this unique experience. I

must continue."

Perhaps this was her one chance to truly let loose. Peyton smiled in agreement. "Alright, let's make the most of our remaining days here. I'm going to enjoy the cafeteria food while I can. Once we're back home, we won't have such luxuries."

With their departure looming, Peyton

shed any remaining pretense of sophistication. The cafeteria food was indeed delicious, and in the next ten days, she planned to indulge fully After all, with their time here drawing to a close, there was no point in worrying about appearances anymore.