Chapter 83
(+23)
Doris hadn’t expected Lewis to stay away for three whole days. She thought he must have gone back to his parents‘ place- he even took Biscuit with him.
The big house felt just like it did in the beginning–empty, with only her once again. The silence was unsettling.
Of course, she wouldn’t admit that it felt emptier without Lewis. What she missed was Biscuit.
Since he wasn’t reaching out to her, she wouldn’t reach out to him either. After all, she thought he was in the wrong. If he didn’t lower his head and apologize, she would never forgive him.
When Doris got home, she ran into Laura at the entrance of the residential complex.
Laura walked up and linked arms with Doris. “What’s wrong with you these past few days? You look lifeless. Haven’t been sleeping?”
“Yes.” Doris didn’t want to mention the fight with Lewis. “Laura, I bought fish. I’ll make fish for lunch today.”
“Great,” Laura smiled.
When they got home, Jimmy was about to make a call. Seeing them, he said, “Your mom is missing.”
What?” Doris‘ shopping bag dropped to the floor with a loud thud.
Laura was just as shocked. “Dad, how… how could Mom go missing? Have you looked for her?”
“I searched the entire complex twice and didn’t find her. Then I came back upstairs, and you two just got home.” Jimmy wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Doris quickly strode into the house, checking every room, but Peyton was nowhere to be seen.
“Where could Mom have gone?” Laura frowned, “Didn’t she say she wouldn’t leave the complex?”
Doris turned back. “Laura, let’s go look for her. Maybe she’s still nearby.”
“Okay.” Laura grabbed Doris‘ hand and walked out together, instructing Jimmy, “Dad, call Rupert and ask him to help look for Mom too.”
“Alright.” Jimmy nodded.
Laura and Doris left the residential complex. However, the outside world was vast, they didn’t knew where Peyton might have gone.
Doris glanced around. “Laura, let’s split up. Stay in touch at all times.”
“Alright.” Laura pointed to the left. “I’ll go this way.”
Doris headed to the right, walking quickly while scanning her surroundings for any sign of Peyton. Her delicate face was filled with sorrow, and her eyes were brimming with worry and anxiety.
Spotting a row of shared bikes by the roadside, she quickly scanned one with her phone and hopped on, continuing the search on wheels. This way, she could cover more ground faster and ease her burden.
Doris had no idea how long she had been searching when she spotted her mother, Peyton, at an intersection.
“Mom!” Doris pedaled faster toward her.
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12:30 Wed, 5 Mar
Chapter 83
But to her shock, Peyton completely ignored the green light–she didn’t even glance at the traffic before dashing straight into the road.
Doris opened her mouth to call out, but before she could, she saw a car unable to brake in time, crashing straight into Peyton.
Peyton was knocked to the ground, curling up in pain.
Doris froze. Her mind went completely blank.
A few seconds later, her stiff body finally loosened.
Doris pedaled furiously toward the scene, abandoned her bike at the intersection, and rushed through the growing crowd, running to Peyton.
She practically fell to her knees beside Peyton. She didn’t dare touch her, her eyes already red. “Mom… Mom!”
Peyton barely managed to open her eyes. Her vision was blurry–she could only make out Doris‘ silhouette.
A faint smile tugged at her lips before her eyelids drooped, her head tilting to the side as she lost consciousness. Blood began to spread beneath her, strikingly bright and deeply unsettling.
“Mom!” Doris cried out, the tears that had been pooling in her eyes finally spilling over like pearls breaking free.
“Miss, what are you doing just standing there? Call an ambulance. Saving her is the priority,” a kind bystander reminded her.
Snapped back to reality, Doris fumbled with her trembling hands to take out her phone and call for help. “This is Broadlink Road – First Section. There’s been a traffic accident. Please, send an ambulance quickly.”
Her voice was shaking, tinged with sobs.
After the call, she immediately dialed Laura. “Laura, I found her. She’s at Broadlink Road – First Section. She got hit by a car. Hurry and come!”
There was nothing Doris could do but stay by Peyton’s side, keeping watch until the ambulance arrived.
The driver of the car glared at Doris and snapped, “Your mom ran straight into my car. This has nothing to do with me. If she wanted to kill herself, she should’ve gone somewhere else instead of causing trouble for others. “What kind of bad luck is this, running into a lunatic like her?”
He had been driving properly, so he hadn’t expected someone suddenly darting into the road. He felt wronged.
But Doris was entirely focused on Peyton’s condition, oblivious to the driver’s furious words. All she wanted was for Peyton to be safe.
“I’m talking to you! Did you hear me?” The driver was dissatisfied with her lack of response.
“I heard you,” Doris murmured faintly.
“Then you better know this–I’m not paying a cent for your mom’s medical bills, and you’ll be compensating me for my damages.” The driver continued, “Don’t even think about scamming me for money.”
Just then, a passing traffic officer pushed through the crowd, surveying the accident scene. “What happened here?”
Some witnesses who had seen everything explained the situation.
The officer then questioned both the driver and Doris.
After assessing the circumstances, the officer handled the case accordingly.
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12:30 Wed, 5 Mar
Chapter 83
Soon, the ambulance arrived. Peyton was carefully lifted onto a stretcher and taken into the ambulance, with Doris following closely behind.
Doris called Laura again to inform her that they were heading to the hospital.
Peyton was rushed into the emergency room, while Doris waited outside, anxious and restless,
Before long, Laura and Rupert arrived.
“Doris, how is Mom?” Laura grasped Doris‘ hands.
Doris‘ hands were ice–cold, her face pale–clearly, she was terrified.
Laura pulled Doris into an embrace, gently patting her back. “Doris, don’t be scared. I’m here.”
“Laura.” Doris buried her head against Laura’s shoulder, clutching tightly at the fabric on her back. “Mom got hit by a car. There was so much blood. I’m scared.”
“Doris, it’ll be okay.” Laura reassured her despite her own fears. “Mom has always been strong. She’ll be alright.”
After all, Doris had witnessed Peyton’s car accident with her own eyes, leaving behind an indelible psychological trauma.
“Why did Mom drive straight into the crash? She clearly didn’t want to live.” That was what truly puzzled Doris.
For a moment, Laura couldn’t find an answer either.
C23)
She thought hard and said, “Maybe Mom didn’t want to suffer from her illness anymore? Or maybe she just lost control for a moment? But let’s wait until she wakes up and hear what she has to say.”
Doris tightly shut her eyes, and large teardrops fell again. Her heart was in turmoil, aching unbearably.
Laura felt Doris‘ scorching tears soak into the fabric on her shoulder, burning against her skin. She understood just how -much Doris was hurting.
Peyton was Doris‘ mother–seeing Peyton shatter right in front of her eyes, Doris couldn’t bear that..
Laura helped Doris sit down, letting her lean against her.
Rupert stood there, not daring to utter a word.
“Rupert, go get some water,” Laura said to him.
“Okay.” Rupert walked away.
Half an hour passed before Peyton was finally wheeled out of the emergency room. Laura, Doris, and Rupert rushed forward, eager to know Peyton’s condition.
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