Chapter 7 7 Sienna's POV Liam stood not far from me, glaring with a mix of anger and frustration, asking where I had been. Had he forgotten what had happened to me just a few days ago? I took a deep breath, exhausted, and let out a soft sigh. "I just got out of the hospital... because of the accident," I said quietly, staring at him with deep disappointment. Liam paused for a fraction of a second. But not to process my words-only... surprised. Instead of instinctively apologizing, he asked impatiently, "What did the doctor say? You're fine, right? Why were you in the hospital for so long?" I looked at him. Deeply. For the first time, I truly looked at the man who used to be my husband-not with eyes searching for affection, but for clarity. Then I laughed. Bitter. Hollow. A laugh that stabbed through my chest. "Too long, huh?" I whispered. "Maybe the injury on my head wasn't that bad. But maybe... the wounds you can't see are worse, Liam" He said nothing. No denial. No apology. Because to him, this was only about "Why did you take so long?", not "Why wasn't I there for you?" Tiny footsteps echoed from the stairs. "Noah!" I called out instinctively. Noah came down with his hair messy and wearing his favorite t-shirt. His eyes lit up when he saw me-only to turn into a frown of anger moments later. "Mommy!" he whined as he rushed toward me. "I'm hungry. I want to eat now!" I bent down slightly, wanting to touch his cheek. But he pulled away. "Mommy just got back from the hospital, sweetheart. I'm still very tired. Can you wait a bit?" "No!" he screamed. "Mommy's mean! Mommy doesn't love me anymore! If you loved me, you'd make me food right away!" I froze. My t tongue is stuck. The words were there, waiting to explain everything, but my mouth refused to move. Slowly, I turned my head. Liam was still standing there, not even trying to step in. And Emily... stood a few steps behind, partially hidden by the dining room wall. Her face was calm. A faint smile playing on her lips... as if she was enjoying every second of this. Their eyes... empty. Not one of them stood up for me. I looked down. Then slowly nodded. "Alright... Mommy will make you something to eat," I whispered to Noah. "Wait in the dining room, okay?" (1 Without waiting for anyone's response, I turned and walked toward the kitchen. My steps were slow. But steady. The manuscript I had been gripping so tightly-I placed it on the kitchen counter, gently. As if it were something sacred. Let them see it. Let them ask later. For now... I would cook. As usual. As if nothing had happened. Because in this house... pain isn't real until someone leaves for good. I haven't left. Not yet. But soon. And when that day comes, I will never look back. The smell of black pepper beef began to fill the entire kitchen. Thin smoke rose from the pan, briefly clouding my vision. My hands moved steadily, adding oyster sauce, pepper, a touch of sweet soy sauce. I had already moved the soy-glazed chicken to a small plate with a dinosaur print-Noah's favorite since he was a toddler. The color was still vibrant. But the sweet memories attached to it... had begun to fade. Sweat clung to my temples. My legs trembled from standing too long. But I had to finish. At the very least, they'd eat dinner tonight. I knew I should be resting. My body wasn't fully healed yet. But in this house, exhaustion meant nothing. Here, I still had to be the mother. The wife. The servant who must never be wrong. Even when my world was falling apart inside me. Once everything was ready, I set the table. The black pepper beef in the center. Stir-fried green beans beside it. Warm soy-glazed chicken specially for Noah. I arranged the spoons and forks neatly, filled the water glasses to the brim. Habits I still maintained, even as they slowly lost their meaning. "Let's eat," I said softly, more to myself than anyone else.. It didn't take long before everyone arrived. Footsteps echoed from the living room. Noah came first, running over and hopping onto his chair with a cheerful look. I was about to sit next to him, like I always did. My place. My seat as Mommy. But Noah's small hand gently pushed me away. "Don't sit here, Mommy!" he said quickly. "I want to sit with Auntie Emily," he added in a louder voice. I froze on the spot. Emily appeared shortly after, her steps light, her smile warm-but fake. She casually sat in in the empty seat next to Noah, greeting him with a soft voice. "Oh, you want Auntie to sit here? Gosh, you're just the sweetest, Noah," she said, ruffling his hair. I didn't know how to react, Angry? Protest? What for? All I saw was Liam at the end of the table, eyes fixed on his food, pretending nothing had happened. I took a breath, swallowed the lump in my throat, and sat down on the chair next to him. A chair I never used. Far from the place where I used to belong I looked at my plate. The black pepper beef 1 had cooked with the last of my strength looked appetizing. But my tongue was numb. My stomach churned. My body only wanted to collapse. Dive into the latest episode of ReelTalk EP 38-Backstage: Cooking My Way Back to Love by CrushReel, a captivating romance series in progress. Host Laze invites viewers behind the scenes, offering a glimpse into the dynamic chemistry between him and co-host Adam Daniel as they navigate the culinary world together. Explore the intricate themes of love, passion, and second chances that intertwine throughout the show. Delve into the character nuances of Laze and Adam Daniel as they bring their unique perspectives to the forefront, creating a recipe for heartfelt connections and culinary delights. Experience the behind-the-scenes magic that sets Cooking My Way Back to Love apart from traditional romance narratives, blending food and romance in an engaging and authentic way. 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