Chapter 9 In a flash , a figure came running toward me 0 Before I could react , I heard wind whistling past my ear ] The hand gripping my arm released Instead , I fell into warm , strong arms . ] Luke's chest was heaving , Pressed against him , everything around us seemed to quiet down - I could only hear that rapidly beating heart . [ ] Chase had been knocked to the ground with one punch . Looking up at this stranger , his eyes filled with deep pain as he demanded . " Who are you ? " ] Luka gently wrapped his arm around my waist and declared possessively : Tm her husband , Luke Lucas . Then he lowered his head and kissed my forehead softly , saying in a voice only I could hear : " Don't be afraid . I'm here . " My heart had been racing with lingering fear , but hearing those words , it gradually calmed down - like an injured baby bird finding a warm nest , I felt safe . ] " Impossible . Quinn , he's lying , isn't he ? " ] Chase scrambled to his feet awkwardly , his dim eyes showing obvious hurt and disbelief . ] ] He still couldn't accept that I was actually married . [ ] I took Luke's hand with the wedding ring and showed it to him : " Chase , I really am married . There's no point in you continuing this harassment . " ] " So what if you're married ! As long as we love each other , who can stop us ? " Chase refused to give up , rushing over to try dragging me away . " Besides , you think he's some good guy ? If he were decent , he wouldn't be taking advantage of someone at a time like this ! " Luke's expression turned completely cold . He pushed me behind him , saying quietly : " Be good , step back . Don't want you getting hurt . " Instinctively , I actually did step back several paces . [ ] In the blink of an eye , the two men were fighting . Luke put real force behind every punch. ] Though Chase worked out regularly , he was clearly no match . Soon he was beaten completely defenseless . I calmly pulled out my phone and called an ambulance , then quickly stopped Luke : " Don't kill him - you'll get dragged into legal trouble ." Hearing this , he snorted coldly and let go : " Fine , I'll listen to you . " " Quinn ... " Chase lay on the ground unable to get up , moaning in pain . He reached out , still trying to grab my ankle . I looked at him with complete disgust : " Chase , could you stop being so revolting ? " I didn't want to see him anymore . After telling my parents that an ambulance would be coming . I left with Luke . ] Back home , I noticed he had obvious bruising on his face . " Where's the first aid kit ? Let me put some medicine on that " He found the lat and obediently sat on the sofa . [ ] 1 Back when Chase couldn't control his temper and always got into fistfights , he'd be afraid of getting scolded at home , so I'd always treated his wounds outside first ] That's why i was so practiced at handling these minor injuries . ] But ... the moment I leaned in close to him , a blurry figure suddenly flashed through my mind . [ ] " What's wrong ? " Seeing me freeze , Luke asked { ] Tsuddenly feel like you look familiar . A flash of excitement suddenly flickered in Luke's eyes ( " Do you remember now ? ) m 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.