Chapter 14 Vincenzo leaned back, still calm, too calm. "The Andersons don't know. Only me and Miranda do. Not even Father. If he knew what happened to you at the hands of Rufus Anderson, it would trigger a war. And this city isn't ready for that war." The second folder hit the table heavier than the first. Vincenzo didn't say a damn word, just slid it over like it was nothing. My stomach twisted, but I opened it anyway. Inside... my whole erasure. Newspaper clippings. My death certificate. Press statements with my picture and a bold headline: "Annette Anderson Dead in Paris Shooting." I froze and my breath was shallow. At the very bottom was a will. My grandfather's will. His name signed bold, strong, even in death. And there it was-my name written as the beneficiary. I touched the paper like it might burn me. "No... no, this can't be real." Vincenzo's voice was low, sharp. "The old man left his fortune, his shares, his estates... to you He knew who you were. Maybe he buried the truth to protect you. Maybe to keep peace in the family. But in the end, he chose you." My chest cracked open. My grandfather. The only one who ever treated me warm. His rough hand on my shoulder when Mrs. Anderson spat cold words at me. His laugh when I walked into a room. His voice... my little girl. I choked on my tears. "He knew. He knew all along." Miranda leaned closer, eyes calm but firm. "If you want, we can claim it in your name. All of it. The Anderson empire would be yours. Rufus would be left with nothing." I clutched the folder tight, nails digging in, then shook my head. My throat burned. "No. I don't want to be tied to him anymore. Not through blood. Not through money. I'm done." But my eyes landed on Rufus's photo lying on the desk. My chest twisted. I hated him. I wanted to rip that face apart. I wanted to claw back everything he stole. But under that fire... there was still that ache, the stupid old love I couldn't kill. My voice cracked. "Part of me wants to destroy him. To take everything. To watch him burn. But another part of me... I just want to heal. To breathe without choking. I'm tired of cages, tired of names. Anderson wife, Lombardo heiress... I just want my own life." The room went heavy silent. Vincenzo watched me like stone. Miranda's eyes flicked over me like she was weighing my heart. I pushed the folder away and stood, legs weak but steady. "Keep your wealth. Keep your wars. I'm walking out with nothing but myself." I made it halfway to the door when his voice cut the air, cold as steel. "You want to know who ordered your death?" I froze. My hand trembled on the doorknob. Slowly, I turned back. "Maisie." He shook his head. "No. It wasn't Rufus either." Dear Husband. I Don't Love You Anumaral 11:40 am & My heart pounded. "Then... who?" His mask tilted, his words deliberate. "His mother. Margaret. She wanted you gone because Rufus was still madly in love with you." The floor dropped under me. "Why would she do that?" Vincenzo's tone sharpened. "She planted lies. Spread filth. Said you laundered money. Said you stole. Said you spread your legs for a dozen men. She made sure Rufus believed it. And she won." I shook my head hard, tears blinding me. "Stop. Please stop." But he wasn't done. His voice cut deeper. "It was Margaret who faked the DNA. She made Rufus believe your daughter wasn't his. He dug up her grave. He threw her remains into the creek." "What?!" My heart collapsed. My knees buckled. I couldn't breathe. My baby. My little girl. Gone like trash. I covered my face with shaking hands, sobbing silent and raw. Inside, something broke that would never mend. And all I could think was-how could Rufus do that to our child? I couldn't sleep. Nights felt endless, every word Vincenzo dropped into my chest replaying like poison. My pillow was wet, my eyes swollen, but behind every tear there was something sharper, heavier, something that cut deeper than grief. Hatred. One night, I slipped outside, bare feet on cold stone, the ocean right there, black and endless. The sound of waves crashing was the only thing keeping me from screaming. My heart yearned for my daughter-my baby, who should have been resting in peace. Instead, her grave had been dug up, her little bones tossed into a creek like garbage. I wrapped my arms around myself, swaying against the wind. The grief was unbearable. The rage almost swallowed me whole. Miranda found me. She didn't touch me right away, just stood beside me. "Scars aren't weakness," she whispered. "They're proof you survived." I looked at her, shaking my head. "But surviving feels worse. I don't even know how to breathe anymore." She didn't argue. She just placed a blanket over my shoulders and left me there. And from the shadows, I could feel Vincenzo's eyes on me. Watching. Waiting. Testing if I'd drown in my tears or crawl out of them. I stayed until dawn, watching the ocean bleed into gray light. The next evening, he cornered me. His study smelled like smoke and iron. He leaned against the table, mask hiding half his face, voice colder than the sea. "You want vengeance?" My throat tightened. I couldn't answer right away. He stepped closer, words low, deliberate. "If you want war, I'll arm you. Lombardo will stand behind you. But if you want peace, walk away. Forget us. Forget who you are. But you can't have both." Chapter 14 33 11:40 am I swallowed hard. My chest ached, my heart split wide open. "I just... I want my life back. I want to stop hurting." His eyes burned through me. "That's not an answer." Tears blurred my vision again. My voice broke as I whispered, "I want them to pay." For a second, the room went quiet, like even the air was listening. His mask tilted slightly, like he'd been waiting for me to say it. The next morning, Peter barged into my room with that usual stupid grin. "Morning, mummy girl! I was running errands yesterday." He waved his tablet like a trophy. "Guess what I found?" I didn't move, didn't care. My whole body felt too heavy. He plopped down near me. "Come on, don't be so gloomy. Wanna know what I learned about Maisie?" I froze, heart skipping, but I didn't answer. He lowered his voice, almost whispering, eyes darting to the door. "Don't tell Vince I told you this. But... read that report." He shoved the tablet into my hands. I blinked, my shaking fingers scrolling. "Your daughter," Peter whispered, "she wasn't sick. She didn't die from a stomach ache." My heart started hammering. "What are you saying?" 11:40 am 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.