Chapter 3 My brain went numb , this crushing pain spreading through my chest , making it impossible to breathe . ] So all those nights I'd been lying awake in agony , he really HAD been with Scarlett ? ] Tears poured down my face like a river . ] ] I remembered last year on my birthday - he'd just gotten back from a three - month overseas deployment , face still sunburned , but he'd secretly reserved the base community center and filled it with 99 white roses . Under the moonlight , he held my hand , thumb tracing the ring mark on my finger : " Maddie , you're the only woman I'll ever marry " Those memories played like a movie in my head , overlapping with Scarlett's photos , and the pain was suffocating . I slid down the wall , sobbing until I went numb , until I coughed up blood on the floor and everything went black . ] When I woke up , I was in the base hospital . ] ] The nurse said a neighbor found me passed out by my front door and called for help . ] The doctor told me I'd had stress - induced gastric bleeding from emotional trauma and needed to stay for observation . [ ] I stared at the IV tube with empty eyes , all cried out . [ ] Checking my phone , finally saw ONE message from Garrett : [ Coming home tonight . We need to talk . ] The heart monitor next to me started screeching . The doctor rushed over , trying to convince me to stay a few more days . [ ] But I insisted on discharge . ] ] Back home , there was an envelope by the front door with a real estate contract peeking out . I remembered Scarlett's old Instagram post : [ He said he wants to build me a house with a yard in my hometown , somewhere he can hide me away where nobody will find me . ] ] I didn't dare open the envelope . Just went to pack my stuff , then headed to a lawyer's office to draft a contract dissolving our engagement . [ ] I've always been a coward when it comes to love - too scared to confront him face - to - face , too scared to tell my mom . ] ] If she knew how badly I'd been hurt , she'd be heartbroken and lose sleep over it . ] After leaving the contract in his desk drawer , I booked the earliest flight out of the country . On my way to the airport , I passed the base's wall of honor with Garrett's photo - him in reconnaissance gear with a Bronze Star on his chest , eyes sharp as a hawk's . [ ] Looking at that picture , I gave a bitter smile , Good thing we'd kept the engagement secret , or my pathetic state would've been the talk of the base wives by now . [ ] After boarding , I turned off my phone and watched the city shrink below through the window . I just wanted to find somewhere nobody knew me and hide out for a while . [ ] It wasn't until the plane touched down at a foreign airport a day later that I turned my phone back on , instantly flooded with missed calls and messages . From my mom , from friends , but mostly from Garrett [ ] I opened our chat with shaking hands , and my blood turned to ice ... ] He'd sent over a hundred voice messages , finally losing it completely in the last few texts : [ ] You think disappearing without a word mean I can't track you down ? Madison Wells , just you WAIT ! ] "What the hell is that breakup contract dong in my study ? You seeing someone else ? I'd rather DIE than let you go ! [ ] Tizase just pick up the damn phone At least let me know you're safe . Don't forture me like this ... 1 In the middle of the night at this nearly emply airport , I found a hidden corner and broke down crying like the pathetic mess I was [ ] All these messages were too much - I didn't know how to react anyure [ ] just let this electric numbness wash over me , and walled for it to pass . ) These past few hours , fd been kicking myself for hot telling Garrett exactly what I thought before leaving I never said he maids of with Scarlett - but if he wanted her so bad , why the hell did he have to drag me into 117 All That hurt and anger bubbled up as I texted my ba Our sking a little vacation to clear my head I be ackn Don't let Garrett come koking for me , or Fill disappear scene where you ' NEVER od me I cased our chat and saw that Scarlett's burner account was still pisting their " intimate moments top ] hut 1 was dare furturing myself by koking [ 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.