Chapter 5 When I agreed to stay and take care of Garrett , my friend was still teasing me : You're completely whipped by this guy , aren't you ? I'm not ugly - before Garrett , I had plenty of guys chasing me . I could've easily found someone decent who treated me well and settled down But I couldn't do it . None of them were Garrett , so I didn't want to bother When Garrett asked me out , I'd already made my choice . 0 Even if I had to live forever in the shadow of his " precious protégé " Scarlett Rivers , I wanted to take this gamble . ] Because he was the guy I'd been crazy about for years . [ ] From the moment he first showed up at my house in that sharp military uniform , I was willing to risk it all . [ ] My eyes were red and swollen from crying . ] ] By the time I got to the hospital , there weren't many people outside his room . [ ] Garrett's parents were pretty shaken up - my mom had convinced them to go rest . Now it was just Tommy and some military escort waiting around . [ ] Tommy looked at me like I was his savior , and this guy who usually kept a stone face almost teared up : You're finally back ... finally back ... " Tommy fold me that when Garrett found my breakup contract , he went absolutely ballistic Had him immediately track down where I'd been the past few days . When he found out I'd missed work and ended up in the hospital from emotional stress , he was so pissed he didn't even eat dinner . ] ..1 " When he couldn't reach you , he drove around the city in circles looking for you . Once we tracked down your flight info , that's the first time I ever saw Major Steele cry ... " " He made me sit with him in his study , going through old messages you'd sent him , asking me to think of anything unusual about you lately . When he got really worked up , he'd lean back in his chair saying you were heartless , that you'd given up on him ... Honestly , I've been with Major Steele for years , and I'd never seen him like that . " ] " Later I had people investigate Scarlett Rivers and found that account and all those posts ... I swear on my military record , Major Steele is INNOCENT ! " ] " Those photos were staged by her and some other female soldiers , shot from deliberately misleading angles . And those fake ' chat screenshots - Major Steele had no clue ! " " She stole his work phone when he was in meetings , and deleted parts of normal work conversations ! " Tommy was getting more fired up talking about it , his fists actually shaking when he got really emotional ] " What about that real estate contract near the suburban training grounds ? " ] Tommy's lips moved for the longest time when I asked that , his face turning red as he deflated against the wall : " I really can't say ... That's something Major Steele prepared privately - he has to tell you himself ... ] But Madison , you HAVE to believe me . Major Steele cares about you way more than you think . Every time he goes on a mission , he keeps your photo in his chest pocket . " ] " As soon as we got to the bottom of Scarlet's bullshit , he requested she be transferred out . He was too busy with training exercises to deal with those posts earlier - who knew she'd pull this stunt in the meantime ... 1 ] " Major Steele already told the higher - ups that she's not staying in the system . She's definitely gonna pay for what she did . " ] " He said he'll never have any contact with Scarlett outside of work again . " I was getting more confused by the ininute ] This wasn't really the time or place to sort out right from wrong . [ ] But since he brought it up , I wanted to know if this whole mess that had been eating at me for weeks was just in my head [ ] Yet the answer was still frustratingly unclear ! ] I didn't choose to believe him that was on me but the fact that Garrett had been hiding things from me was still real ! ] Tummy and I were both exhausted for different reasons , but all our emotions were tied up in worrying about the guy in that hospital room ] 1 didn't want to gain there along , so I leaned against the hallway wall and dozed off [ ] When the sky was just starting to lighten . I hard the doctor calling out ! Patient's awake - family can go in now Opening that does felt like my legs weighed a thousand pounds ) The nurse had traved his tuygen mask and given him sane water . Now he was propped up in bed , staring at me intensely Thank God this guy was in peak physical condition from all his training - utherwise thus car accident could've really screwed bam up. He did say anything at first Terry nudged me forward and my legs moved an autopik Chapter 5 The second I stopped walking , he finally opened his mouth , voice hoarse , eyes bloodshot : " Thought you didn't want me anymore . Now you're willing to come back ? Before walking in , I'd sworn to keep my emotions in check . He was the patient , still recovering - I had to go along with whatever he needed . ] But the moment those words left his mouth , this wave of sadness hit me out of nowhere [ ] Feeling his stare made me ashamed , I turned to leave . But Garrett grabbed my waist with both arms 0 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.