Ashley had no idea what her single message truly meant . She hadn't received a reply , but the next morning , someone knocked on her door . When she opened it , she was stunned to see an old friend she hadn't laid eyes on in years . For a moment , she almost didn't recognize Sam . The sloppy programmer who once wore oversized black- rimmed glasses and plaid shirts every day now stood before her in a sharp business suit . His hair was neatly styled , his glasses slim golden frames . He looked every bit the successful professional . But when he spoke , he was still the same Sam she remembered . " I bought a bed for the office you left behind . The kind with the massage function we used to dream about ." That single sentence pulled her back to the girl she once was - Ashley , who had lived with her own dreams . In her teens , she and her friends had started their own studio , taking on projects , and eventually built it into a company . But for the sake of love , she had left it all behind , putting her own career and ambitions on hold to fight for something called family . Her friends kept moving forward while she stayed behind . Now , after so many years , she wasn't even sure if she could keep up with them anymore . Sam , clearly emotional , talked on and on . He told her how the company had grown since she left , how the industry had evolved , and the three key projects the company was now focused on : artificial intelligence , smart driving , and - most important of all -the low - altitude economy . Ashley listened , shocked by how fast everything had advanced in just a few short years . At last , Sam noticed her expression , the mix of emotions flickering across her face . " The algorithm you won awards for , no one has surpassed it to this day . With the way the industry has grown , do you realize how many people would kill for it ? " Ashley smiled faintly . " That was years ago . Glory doesn't last forever . I've been gone for five years . I really can't keep up anymore ." Sam immediately pulled a laptop from his bag . " I brought this for you . I've already loaded it with everything you'll need . All the project source code is inside . You've got one month . Learn as much as you can . You'll always be the fifteen - year - old genius in my memory . " Ashley's face showed hesitation . " But I'm almost thirty now . " More than six years away - there was no way to bridge that gap . Sam shook his head . " You were never at the same starting line as the rest of us . You were already at the finish 1/3 09:52 Wed , Sep 17 1 line . Do you know how many tech companies would pay fortunes just for rights to that algorithm ? You're the only creator . You hold the source code . If you wanted , you could sell it and end up on the billionaire list . " Ashley only smiled softly . That algorithm was the one thing she had refused to hand over to Grayson back when she helped him start his business . It was her one untouchable resource . It had once been her pride . But she knew she couldn't live in the past - she had to move forward . Ashley shut herself away , burying herself in work to catch up . Meanwhile , the Shanks family and the Holmes family were frantic when they couldn't reach her . Grayson called ten times a day . At first the calls went unanswered ; later , her phone was switched off entirely . He was helpless . The Shanks family , whose finances depended on the Holmes family , was even more desperate . Morgan bought trending searches online to pressure her , but still she didn't show up . Quinton and Tyson urged him to cancel the trending topics . Airing family scandals in public would only backfire . Yvonne added coolly , " Could it be that Ashley really intends to abandon Liam ? " Susan chimed in , " Morgan , you'd better sit down and talk to Ashley . The internet won't solve this . She's been missing for a week since her release . " Those words only enraged Morgan further . " Liam is her son . If she won't even save her own son , she doesn't deserve to be human . Do you have any idea how much money and how many connections we spent to get her out of prison ? And this is how she repays us ? " Yvonne said calmly , " If Ashley wants conditions , she can name them . But Liam's time is running out . " Quinton tried to reason , " Dad , don't get worked up . She's still resentful . Making her take the fall back then- it was unavoidable , but she must still hold a grudge . I'll find her and talk to her . " Morgan's voice was harsh . " And what if she had to go to prison ? We raised her for over twenty years , gave her a life of luxury . A useless person like her - prison was her way of contributing to this family . Back then , she was the only one without a proper career . For the sake of the whole family , she sacrificed a little . And it was only three years ! She only served two before we got her out early . What more does she want ? And now it's her own son we're trying to save . Why is she being so difficult ? " Sitting silently , Tyson finally stood up . All eyes turned to him . After a pause , he said , " I've got a meeting . I'll head out first . " 2/3 09:52 Wed , Sep 17 After all , Yvonne was sitting right there . Back when it all happened , he too had agreed to let Ashley take the blame instead of her . Like his father had said , Ashley had no career , just a full - time housewife . Yvonne , on the other hand , was indispensable to Grayson's AI department . Losing her would have crippled development and dragged the Shanks family into bankruptcy . If the family lost their wealth , they wouldn't have been able to protect Ashley anyway . As the eldest son , Tyson had kept silent - but in his heart , the guilt weighed heavily . Especially now , when rumors swirled that Yvonne was negotiating with " SamAsh " for exclusive rights to an algorithm . If she succeeded , Yvonne's value to both the Shanks family and the Holmes family would only grow . 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.