No sooner had he left than a rare luxury car - one of a global limited edition - pulled up in front of Ashley . The tinted window lowered slowly . A man with strikingly perfect features turned his face toward her . His voice was low , magnetic , and carried her name with ease . " Ashley . " Startled , Ashley looked back at him , caught off guard by his beauty . But she was sure she had never seen him before . She stared at his face without looking away . " You're looking for me ? " The man lifted his hand and beckoned her lightly . " I don't think I could mistake you . " " Do we know each other ? " she asked . He held up a folder and gave it a little shake . " I have your complete medical records . " Ashley froze , shocked , and rushed forward . " Who are you ? What do you want ? " She didn't know this breathtakingly handsome man , but medical records were private . How could a stranger possibly have them ? The man pushed open the car door . " How about we discuss a deal ? " " Sorry ," Ashley said flatly , " not interested ? He smiled faintly . " Then I could always deliver these to the Shanks family and the Holmes family , let them shower you with pity ." Once , if she had fallen ill , she would have told her family immediately . But now , the last thing she wanted was for them to know . And pity - pity was like a knife flaying her alive . Ashley lifted her chin and stepped into the car . Inside , the scent of polished wood lingered , faint yet noticeable , a carefully measured luxury . But she had no interest in savoring it . " What do you want ? " she demanded . The only thing she truly had of value was Ash Algorithm . Few knew she was its creator , but it wasn't completely unknown . She assumed that was his target . But the words that came out of his mouth went far beyond her expectations . 1/3 09:55 Wed , Sep 17 Unhurried , he slid a check toward her . " I looked into you . One hundred million - for your kidneys after you die ." Ashley's eyes widened . "What ? " He arched a brow . " You're dying anyway , aren't you ? " Her gaze dropped to the check . It was indeed written for one hundred million . Such generosity . But still- Her slender fingers flicked the slip of paper away , her smile radiant and confident . " Looks like you didn't bother to check the numbers in my bank account . " At once , curiosity and scrutiny sharpened his expression . " And another thing - the doctors haven't sentenced me yet . For all you know , I could make a miraculous recovery . You'd better take your hundred million and wait around in a hospital ." With that , Ashley reached for the door . But he caught her hand . " I'm James Saunder . Out of over a billion people in this country , we're the only match . We'll meet again . " Ashley glanced down at his long , elegant fingers gripping hers . He read her look and released her without protest . She stepped out , closed the door , and offered a polite smile before climbing into her rideshare . The moment she sat down , her smile fell away . James was clearly wealthy and powerful . That he could uncover her information was no surprise . But hearing her illness spoken of so bluntly , reminded that she might not have long to live - it cracked her composure . Who doesn't want to live ? James was beautiful , like a lead character torn from a comic , but his frame was thin , almost frail . His hands , though graceful , carried the same gauntness she herself bore . He must be sick . He must need a kidney . If she really was dying , maybe she could consider giving it to him . After all , once she was gone , her body would be useless . It would be a shame to waste it . As Ashley's thoughts drifted this way , James sat in his car staring at his phone . Her bank account was full of money . Cash . 2/3 Wed , Sep The Shanks family and the Holmes family had built large businesses , but even they didn't deal in that kind of liquidity . Yet somehow all of it had been placed in her hands . The partition in front slid open and his aide in the passenger seat turned back . " Sir , did we miss something in our investigation ? This lady is wealthy . Buying her compliance won't work . " James ' lips curved . " So she's a woman with secrets . I underestimated her . " Ashley , meanwhile , had already put James out of her mind . Selling her kidney was a matter for death . For now , she had to live . SamAsh . Sam stood in his office surrounded by racks of women's clothing , arms crossed , frowning , then shaking his head . " No ... change these ... no , these too , change them again ... Ashley walked in just in time to see the scene . " What's this ? " she asked . Sam turned toward her with pride . " I'm picking out an outfit for you to wear to the event tonight . " Ashley blinked in surprise . " Sam ... have you really evolved this much ? You're not the man who used to understand nothing but code anymore ? " Send Gifts 10 1 3/3 09:55 Wed , Sep 17 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.