---- Chapter 23 Noah stood there long after Ava had disappeared into the building. Scarlett's words, cruel as they were, had struck a nerve because they were true. He didn't know how to be a better man. He only knew how to want what he couldn't have. He looked at the insulated bag in his hand. He had actually tried to cook. He had followed a recipe online, burning the first two attempts before creating something that was barely edible. The effort felt monumental and, now, completely pointless. He finally got back in his car and drove, with no destination in mind. He ended up at the venue where the Indie Game Awards had been held. He walked into the now-empty ballroom, the memory of that night replaying in his mind. He had called her, demanded she leave her own awards ceremony to pick him up. He had thought it was a demonstration of his power over her. Now he saw it for what it was: a breathtaking act of selfishness. He saw one of the event staff cleaning up. "Excuse me," Noah said. "| was here for the awards night a few weeks ago. The Indie Game Awards. Do you remember who won for Best Narrative?" The staff member, a young man, smiled. "Oh yeah! That was a great moment. This woman, Ava Chen. She wasn't there to ---- accept it, there was some drama, but they gave it to her anyway. It was a huge deal. That award is a game-changer. Comes with a half-million-dollar development grant." A half-million-dollar grant. Noah felt his stomach drop. He had known it was an award, but he had dismissed it as some "stupid little thing." He hadn't bothered to understand its significance. He had, with one drunken, arrogant phone call, asked her to throw away half a million dollars and the biggest opportunity of her career. And she had done it. For him. The weight of that sacrifice, a sacrifice he hadn't even been aware of, hit him with the force of a physical blow. He felt sick. He stumbled out of the ballroom, his mind reeling. He had to get to her. He had to tell her... what? That he was sorry? That he finally understood? The words felt inadequate, hollow. But he had to do something. He jumped in his car and sped towards her office, his hands gripping the steering wheel. He drove recklessly, weaving through traffic, his mind consumed with a frantic, desperate urgency. He took a sharp turn too fast, the tires screeching on the wet pavement from an earlier drizzle. The car skidded, slamming into a guardrail. The impact threw him forward, his chest hitting the steering wheel hard. A sharp pain shot through his hand-the same one he had cut while trying to chop onions. The stitches he'd gotten had torn open, and blood was starting to soak through ---- the bandage. He sat there for a moment, dazed, the sound of his own ragged breathing filling the car. He looked at his bleeding hand, and all he could think about was Ava. He had made her throw away her dream for a joke. He had stood by and let his friends mock her. He had abandoned her when she was sick. And now, he had crashed his car in a pathetic, last-ditch effort to what? Apologize? Win her back? He leaned his head back against the seat, a bitter, humorless laugh escaping his lips. Scarlett was right. He hadn't just lost. He had destroyed everything, all by himself. And this, this pathetic scene of him, alone in a crashed car, bleeding from a self-inflicted wound, was his prize. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.