Chapter 10 RUFUS' POV "FUCK!" I woke up with my heart racing, shirt stuck to my back from sweat. My hand pressed against my ribs where Annette shot me in that damn dream. Her face was cold as ice, her finger steady on the trigger, and Maisie was behind me crying with a baby in her arms. The shot still rang in my ears. I dragged in a breath and realized I wasn't in my room. I was on a stiff couch, the stink of disinfectant and medicine filling my nose. Hospital. Voices bled through the door. My father. Business partners. Talking about shipments and alliances like the old man on the bed didn't exist. My grandfather, still unconscious, machines keeping him alive. None of them looked my way when I walked past. Not one. I felt like I was nothing but a ghost with the Anderson name stamped on me. I found Mateo outside, leaning against the wall. He straightened the second he saw me. "Boss," he said carefully, eyes lowered. "About... about Mrs. Anderson." My jaw tightened. "Spit it out." He took a breath. "The body was cremated. Quick. Quiet. No family claimed it, so they... handled it. But if you want, I can collect the ashes. Bring them back." For a second, I couldn't breathe. My knuckles pressed white against my thigh. "Yeah," I muttered, voice breaking. Then louder. "Yeah. Do it. Bring her home. I'll bury her properly. Beside our daughter. No one touches her now. You hear me?" Mateo's eyes flicked up, saw the storm on my face, then he nodded and walked away fast. I turned, went down the hall to Maisie's room. She was pale, hooked up to machines, but the second she saw me she broke down crying. "Rufus..." she sobbed, reaching for me. "I thought you'd never come." I pulled her against my chest, stroking her hair. "I signed the papers," I said, voice low. "It's done. Annette's gone. Once you're discharged, you'll be my wife. My heir deserves my name." She gasped, eyes wide, then clutched me tighter. "You mean it? You'll really marry me?" "Yeah," I said, kissing her hair. "You and the baby. That's all I have left now." Her hands shook as she dialed her phone. "Jules... Jules, he said it. He said he'll marry me. My baby will be born an Anderson." I heard her brothe's voice on speaker, booming with joy. "Rufus, thank you. Thank you for standing by my sister. I swear, you'll never regret this." I answered flatly. "Don't make promises you can't keep. Just keep Maisie calm. I don't want stress hurting the baby." Maisie pulled the phone away and whispered against my chest, "I love you, Rufus. I'll never betray you like she did. I'll give you everything she never could." I kissed her forehead, but my heart felt like it was being crushed under a truck. I left her room and stormed straight into my grandfather's. He was awake, thin chest rising 11:37 am slowly but steady. His eyes cut right through me, sharper than any blade. "Rufus," he rasped, voice brittle. "Tell me... what happened to Annette? Did you protect her like you promised? The divorce... It's... It's fake, right? I know that child, she wont betray you unless you beyrayed her first." The air stuck in my throat. I opened my mouth, but nothing came. My chest burned like hell. He searched my face, his gaze heavy with disappointment. "You failed her... didn't you?" "Grandfather..." I whispered, but the words fell apart. Then the monitor screamed. A flatline. Doctors rushed in, shoving me aside. I grabbed his hand. "No! Don't you fucking go now! Not like this! Fight, old man!" I shouted, shaking him. "You hea me? You don't get to leave me with this shit! Doctor! Save him!" One of the doctors pushed at my chest. "Sir, step back!" "Do something, goddammit!" I roared, my voice breaking. "Don't you let him die!" But I knew. The moment his eyes dimmed, I knew. He was gone. That night, I told Mateo to get Annette's ashes ready. I didn't want them sitting in some urn lik she deserved honor. I wanted to put her beside our daughter, at least for one fucking moment then I'd decide what to do with her. We went to the cemetery. Me, Mateo, and five of my men. It was quiet as hell, just the crunch o boots on gravel. I carried the flowers in my hand, my jaw locked so tight it hurt. When I stood over my daughter's grave, I put the flowers down, but my chest felt like it wa ripping in half. Rage, grief, betrayal-every ugly thing fighting inside me. I looked at the urn and spat on the ground. "You fucked me over, Annette. I trusted you. would've killed every man who looked at you wrong, but you? You fucked me over. That should'v been my bullet in your head, not someone else's. You don't get peace from me." I nodded at Mateo. "Throw it." He blinked. "Boss... you want me to-" "Throw the ashes in the creek. I don't want her name near my blood. She don't deserve to be buried next to my daughter. Do it." Mateo hesitated, but one look from me had him moving. He tossed the urn into the black water The current swallowed her like she never existed. But my chest was still burning. "Dig up the kid." Mateo's eyes widened. "Boss, you sure?" "I said dig her up. I want DNA. I need to know if that child was even mine. Do it now." He nodded, no more questions. The men got to work, shovels breaking dirt. I turned my back, lit a cigarette, and stared at the night sky, thinking about all the ways betrayal eats you alive. - The next morning, Mateo barged into my office. He didn't even knock. "Boss-fuck-" He was out of breath. 11:37 am I raised a brow. "Spit it out before I put a bullet in your skull." He swallowed hard. "The test... the girl wasn't yours." Silence. My ears rang like a gunshot went off right next to me. I leaned back, stared at the ceiling, and let out a low laugh. Ugly, broken, bitter. "Not mine," I repeated. "That little girl I buried, that I fucking mourned for... she wasn't mine?" Mateo lowered his head. "I'm sorry, boss." "Throw the remains," I said flatly. He jerked his head up. "Boss... are you sure?" 11:37 am E In "Someone Loved is Never Lost" by CrushReel, readers are immersed in a captivating CEO drama that explores the intricacies of love, loss, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of corporate power struggles and personal relationships, this ongoing novel delves deep into the lives of its characters as they navigate the complexities of both the boardroom and the heart. Themes of ambition, betrayal, and resilience intertwine with complex character dynamics, making for a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. CrushReel's unique storytelling style brings a fresh perspective to the CEO genre, offering a blend of emotional depth and strategic intrigue that sets this novel apart from others in its category. What makes "Someone Loved is Never Lost" special is its ability to seamlessly blend high-stakes corporate drama with heartfelt human connections, creating a story that resonates on multiple levels. Available to read at CrushReel, this novel promises a literary experience that will leave readers eagerly anticipating each new chapter.