Her head buzzed in disbelief , when Morgan spoke up , " If you want Yvonne to be your mom , then you'd better ask me first . " Yvonne's cheeks flushed as she protested softly , " Don't joke about something like that ." Even her brother joined in the teasing . " Grayson and Yvonne - talented man and beautiful woman . They look like a good match ." " Quinton , not you too , " Yvonne replied , flustered . Ashley's eyes snapped toward Grayson . In two years he had grown more refined , carrying himself with the natural authority of someone at the top . The face that had once captivated her was still handsome , just as it had been when she was young . But from start to finish , he hadn't spoken a single word . Instead , he simply reached for the fruit Yvonne handed him , the gesture so smooth and familiar it carried an intimacy she couldn't ignore . So this was what her absence had left behind . Her chest tightened painfully . Just then , her eldest brother's voice came from behind . " Ashley ... you're out ? " The others inside the room turned their heads , rising from their seats . Her gaze locked with Grayson's . Seeing her , his expression didn't shift at all . No joy , no warmth - only a chilling indifference . Back in prison , Ashley had imagined this moment countless times - throwing herself into his arms , crying until she had no tears left . But now that she faced him in reality , she realized his eyes held nothing but distance . She had loved him since she was a teenager . People whispered that he was an illegitimate son , but Ashley never cared . For love , she chased him fearlessly . Even though Grayson was always polite and distant with everyone , she had fought to close that gap . She skipped grades , scored high enough to enter the very school he attended . She followed him to his university , proudly claiming she had earned it by her own merits . That was the first time he had looked at her differently . From there , she shadowed his every step through graduate school . Just before applying for her doctorate , she spent a night with him . 1/3 09:51 Wed , Sep 17 Afterward , she devoted herself to him - pouring in money , resources , and effort to help him build his business . When his startup succeeded , the Holmes family finally acknowledged him , welcoming him back as heir . That was when the Shanks and Holmes families sealed their union . Ashley , now pregnant , shifted her focus to the home and to raising Liam . But gradually she noticed Grayson's attention wandering . One day , he introduced a new woman into Holmes Corp's AI division with great fanfare . Ashley learned then that Yvonne was his long - cherished love . is grandmothers He brought her into the Shanks family as well , presenting her at birthday celebration - a chain of events that ended in tragedy . And when it came time to protect someone , he chose Yvonne , sacrificing Ashley instead . Now , standing before him , Ashley wondered bitterly if her only mistake had been falling for him in the first place . Her thoughts scattered as Quinton rushed to her , reaching for her hand . Reflexively , she pulled away . He froze , surprised . They had always been the closest siblings . Quinton eyed her cropped hair - cut short during her sentence , Once , Ashley's long , silky locks had been pampered at the cost of hundreds of thousands a year . Now , she looked simple , stripped down , almost unrecognizable . " It's good you're back , Ashley . These past two years must've been hard . Don't worry - now that you're home , everything will be just like before ." Just like before ? How could anything be the same ? She now carried the stain of prison on her record , convicted of harming the grandmother who had loved her most . To her family , to society , even to her son - nothing could return to what it once was . And with her father's mistress Susan and her husband's mistress Yvonne both living under this roof , how could life possibly be unchanged ? She knew someone must have seen what really happened that night . Yet everyone had stood together and pointed at her as the culprit . It had never been the same . Her heart sank as Morgan glanced at Grayson . Grayson stepped forward and , to her shock , spoke first . " Everything I promised you still stands . The dividends from the past two years are set aside , with extra added . If you want to stay here , you can . If you'd rather go back to your family , I'll move there with you . " 2/3 09:51 Wed , Sep 17 T. A year into her sentence , Ashley had already figured it out . She signed the divorce papers without hesitation , agreeing to leave with nothing . She hadn't received the certificate behind bars , but surely the marriage had been dissolved by then . She had freed him . So why hadn't he married Yvonne ? How could he speak as if he were still her husband , as if he could live with her here or move back to her family's home ? She had just seen him with Yvonne , their every movement in sync , their bodies leaning close like an old married couple . Ashley was still struggling to make sense of his words when Yvonne stepped forward , guiding Liam by the hand . She knelt gracefully , smiling as she coaxed , " Liam , your mom's finally back . Don't you want to go talk to her ? " Ashley's heart ached . He was her child - her flesh and blood . Her eyes stung as she reached out , longing to embrace him . But as her arms opened , Liam jerked away , hiding behind Yvonne . " You're a murderer , " he said coldly . " I don't want you to hold me ." Send Gifts 10 !! Title: Cooking My Way Back to Love Author: CrushReel Genre: Modern, Revenge, Drama Status: ongoing In "Cooking My Way Back to Love" by CrushReel, Chef Leon Kennedy, once renowned as the "King of Cooking," spirals into despair following his wife's tragic demise in a car accident. Plunged into homelessness, he clings to his loyal dog as his sole anchor amidst loss and desolation. Amidst the ruins of his former life, Leon grapples with profound grief and seeks solace in the art of cooking—the very passion that once defined him. As he navigates the shadows of his past, themes of resilience, redemption, and the unyielding power of love intertwine in this modern tale of heartache and rebirth. Set against a backdrop of culinary mastery and emotional turmoil, "Cooking My Way Back to Love" delves into the depths of human emotion with raw authenticity. CrushReel skillfully crafts a narrative that captures the essence of loss and the arduous journey toward healing in a world marked by tragedy and shattered dreams. Experience the transformative journey of Chef Leon Kennedy as he rediscovers his purpose through the alchemy of flavors and emotions. Available to read online at CrushReel, this gripping drama promises a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.