Marriage Beyond Redemption
Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 I’m Her Family

When it came to drunk behaviors, Kadence had the worst kind.

If Peyton didn’t stop her, Kadence would’ve had group sex with those male escorts. Anyway, Peytonhad never seen Kadence cling to a man before and call herself an empty nester.

Noticing Kadence was as drunk as a skunk, Peyton had to take Kadence back to her new rentedapartment.

When the care worker heard Peyton was looking for a new place, she recommended her relative’sapartment. Peyton figured it would save her the commission fee, and the care worker vouched for it, soPeyton agreed.

The house owner wouldn’t return home for the time being. They didn’t sign a contract. Peyton talked tothe owner on Facebook. After he gave her consent, she moved in and cleaned the place.

Without any papers or records, it would take Nolan ages to replace her.

Although the small apartment wasn’t as fancy as Schmitt’s mansion before its bankruptcy or herwedding house, it was cozy and much more to Peyton’s liking. She also kept a few of her dad’s favoritetropical fish.

Here, Peyton could see the sea when she opened the window. She used to think Seaview Villa wasNolan’s gift for her, but she didn’t expect him to let Helena move in the moment Helena went back.

For a long time, Peyton repressed her anger, but now, she realized that the sea she saw would still bethe same no matter where she lived.

There was a small terrace in the apartment. Peyton covered it with a thick carpet. After her father’scondition was stabilized, she would take him home and let him enjoy the sun in his leisure time.

However, things changed fast. She didn’t foresee she would get cancer nor Kason would end up likethis.

Peyton felt her stomach churning. She took some meds and went back to lie down in that cramped crib.

Every night, she had to curl up into a ball. Only in this position could she fall asleep for a while.

But tonight, because of the alcohol, she was out like a light. It was already late morning when she wokeup the next day.

Kadence made breakfast. There was a tacit understanding that neither of them should bring up whathappened last night.

During the day, the grownups liked to act tough. Kadence picked up her high heels and trotted towardsthe door.

There was a toast in her mouth when she slurred, “The breakfast is in the kitchen. I’m late. I’ll beleaving now.”

Peyton stopped her. “Kadence, I’ll be very busy in the next few days. I can’t hang out with you.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not a nouveau riche who has tons of money to burn. What happened last night is togrieve over our lost youth. Now, I bounce back and realize money is way more important than man! Ifyou need any help, just ask. Don’t wear yourself out by doing several part- time jobs.”

“Thank you. I will.” Peyton embraced Kadence gently.

“Kadence, you’ll replace someone nice to you. What you’ve been through

in the past is for a better future.”

Kadence joked, “Why are you consoling me? Didn’t you also get dumped by a nice man? How are yousupposed to replace someone better than him?”

“How?” Peyton faced the sun and smiled, “Who knows…”

Kadence wanted to leave, but when she saw Peyton’s lonely silhouette, she hugged Peyton frombehind. “I’ll be swamped with work these days. After that, we can hang out. It’s about to snow. Takecare of yourself even if you can’t replace someone to keep you warm.”.

“OK.”

After seeing Kadence ofl, Peyton cleaned the apartment and turned on her phone.

She was surprised to replace Nolan’s missed calls. He probably wanted to talk about the divorce, butunfortunately, she wouldn’t be available in the following days.

Except for Nolan, Colette also called. Then Peyton called her back.

The call was answered very quickly. Colette’s worried voice came from the other end. “Peytie, whydidn’t you answer my calls? I was worried sick of you. Do you still need money? I’ll remit it to you rightnow.”

Hearing the waves crash against the rock, Peyton felt much calmer.

For many years, Peyton was resentful of her mother’s decision. She didn’t know why her motherwanted to abandon her.

What was even more unacceptable was that her mother was Helena’s stepmother. All of the people,why Helena?

No matter how sad Peyton was, the die was cast. Peyton knew there

Was nothing she could do.

“I’m fine, mom. Nolan gave me a sum of money, so you don’t need to worry about dad’s medical bills.”

When Colette recalled Peyton left in the pouring rain, it couldn’t set her mind at ease. “Where are younow, Peytie? I want to see you. I want to make it up to you.”

Peyton stared at the blue sea and said indifferently, “Mom, if you truly wanted to make it up to me, youwould’ve called these years. If you still had feelings for dad, you would’ve visited him after you cameback. It was my fault. I was at my wit’s end and forgot you had married someone else. I won’t make thesame mistake and ask you for help again.”

“Peytie, I…”

“Mom, just let it stay the same. Dad will take care of me. You never gave birth to me, and I never had amother, like you.”

Peyton didn’t blame herself for making a fool in front of Helena. She blamed Colette’s nonchalanceafter Colette left the country.

When she needed her mother the most, her mother was by another man’s side and taking care of hisdaughter.

Peyton couldn’t change Colette’s decision, so she couldn’t forgive Colette or get over it.

After Peyton hung up, she went to quit her part-time job. Then she texted Nolan, saying she was busyand needed to take a rain check on that divorce.

No matter what the truth was, she and Nolan wouldn’t be together again.

They wouldn’t be friends, let alone lovers.

After getting everything done, Peyton went to the hospital. Alwyn saw Peyton come here alone and feltpitiful for her.

Alwyn hid his sympathy and asked gently, “Scared?”

“I was, but after I saw you, I wasn’t.”

“Don’t worry. I prescribed your chemo drugs. I’ll make sure they work well and the side effects arereduced to the minimum.”

“Thank you.”

At the in-patient department, Peyton felt as if she was in a living hell. For the first time, she saw somany patients of all ages and sexes. They were either wearing wigs or hats.

Several bald middle-aged men didn’t care about their appearance and meandered in the corridor. Inmost wards, patients were undergoing chemotherapy.

Some people were also crying, some staring blankly outside the windows.

When Peyton knew she would soon become one of them, her eyes dimmed. She no longer had hopesfor life.

She dragged her feet onward.

Thanks to Alwyn, Peyton was assigned to a private ward. The nurse saw her and said politely, “Are youMs. Schmitt? Dr. Russell told us you were coming. Please come here and get ready. Meanwhile, tellyour family to fill out some admission forms and pay your bills.”

Family?

The patients here were often accompanied by one or two families. Only she was all alone. Peoplearound her began to commiserate with her because she had cancer and had to go through the chemoalone.

Peyton bit her lips and said awkwardly, “I don’t have any family. Just get me a care worker.”

“No can do. You need a family to sign the papers.” The nurse was in a quandary. “Don’t you have aboyfriend? How about your parents, siblings?”

Peyton stood there helplessly, like a lonely and sad kid whose parents didn’t come to school and pickher up.

Alwyn suddenly took a step forward. “I’m her family. I’ll sign for her.”