Chapter 16 The blast nearly knocked me over. It's just an empty bullet but my arms burned, and my palms stung. "Again," he snapped. I fired. And fired. Until my hands were raw and the skin broke under the recoil. Tears blurred my vision but I didn't stop. Peter finally rushed forward, grabbing my wrists. "Enough! She's not a machine, Vince. Look at her hands, she's bleeding!" "Let go of her," Vincenzo said, voice like frost. "Weakness is contagious. Don't pass yours to her." Peter shot him a glare. "Or maybe she'll break faster if all you do is treat her like a weapon." He turned back to me, softening his tone. "Listen, Annette, breathe. In and out. Don't fight the gun, feel it. Balance yourself. Don't let the recoil own you." I tried again, slower this time, my breathing following Peter's voice. The shot hit closer to the target. Vincenzo's silence filled the room. Then, after a long drag of his cigarette, he muttered, "Better But you're still weak. Cry later. Fight now." The days blurred after that. Morning after morning, I was dragged to the edge of my limits. Combat drills until my arms felt like lead. Running until my legs gave out. Knife training until my fingers blistered. Every night I crumbled into my pillow, sobbing quietly. But when the sun rose, forced myself up. "You'll die if you keep crying," Vincenzo sneered one morning, shoving me back onto my feet. "Your enemies won't care about your tears." Still, Peter slipped me stolen files, whispering conspiracies in my ear like we were kids sharing secrets. Photos of Maisie sneaking into the hospital. Nurse logs changed. Each page was a knife in my chest, but also fuel in my veins. One night, I whispered to the empty room, "Maisie will be the first." Peter heard me. He grinned, though his eyes were sad. "Great. You'll like this then. She's pregnant now. With your ex-husband's child." The words made me flinch like a bullet had hit me. Peter leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smirking in that infuriating, playful way of his. "Pathetic, isn't it? You grieve for a daughter while she's carrying his new one. Maybe that's the only thing that makes her feel powerful." My chest burned with rage, so strong I thought it might split me open. Then one evening... Vince took me into a cold basement that smelled like iron and damp cement. A single chair stood in the middle, a man tied up to it, mouth gagged, eyes wide with fear. He looked filthy, beaten down already. My stomach twisted. "Kill him or walk away forever." Vincenzo's voice was calm, like he was asking me to pick dinner. I froze. "What... what are you saying?" Miranda stepped closer, worry in her eyes. "Don't force her, brother. She's not like us." But Vincenzo didn't even blink. He flicked his lighter, the tiny flame reflecting in his cold eyes. "She wants revenge. Revenge doesn't come from words. Kill or leave. Choose." He glanced at his watch, as if I was wasting his time. "You have one minute." My legs shook. My hands were clammy. The gun felt heavy when he pressed it into my palm. My chest tightened so bad I could barely breathe. "I can't," I whispered. "He's a person." Vincenzo's stare cut through me. "He's a traitor. He sold information that killed three of our men His life is already gone. I'm just giving you the chance to decide whether you belong in this world... or not." The man whimpered under his gag, thrashing weakly. My vision blurred. My head screamed no. But then... I heard it again. Maisie's laughter. That cruel little giggle from my nightmare, taunting me while my daughter begged me for help. Something inside me snapped. My trembling slowed. My finger curled around the trigger, steady for the first time. The sound of the gunshot rang so loud it made my ears ring. The man's head slumped forward. My heart jumped into my throat, bile rising, but I didn't drop the gun. Silence filled the room. Miranda's voice was soft, almost sad. "You didn't have to-" "Yes, she did," Vincenzo cut her off. His tone was ice. "Now she's crossed the line. There's no going back." He looked at me, his expression unreadable. "Welcome to hell, Annette." I wanted to vomit. My hands were sticky with sweat, my body trembling again, but not from fear this time. From something darker. Later that night, I stood by the ocean, the waves crashing hard against the rocks. The wind whipped at my face, carrying salt and cold, but I didn't care. I stared at the horizon, at that endless black water. I whispered, voice breaking, "I'll burn them all for you, baby. Every last one of them. I swear it." The waves answered me, loud and violent, like they were sealing my vow. And deep down, I knew I had just buried the last piece of the old me. .... MAISIE'S POV Six Months... I sat in front of the mirror, turning my face side to side, twisting my hair around my finger. My stomach was flat, smooth under the satin, even though I knew there was a baby inside me. Six months, the doctor said, but I didn't look it. That's what I loved most. Pregnant, but still perfect. Still beautiful. Not like other women who got fat and swollen. I still looked like me. Sexy. Desirable. Worthy. Today was mine. After all the years of playing second, stealing scraps, smiling sweet while Chapter 16. 213 62.7% 11:41 am Annette wore the crown... I finally won. Today, I become Mrs. Anderson. Margaret leaned close, her perfume thick, her voice like velvet poison. "You've done what Annette never could. You secured your place. And honestly, I like you far more than her. That poor little orphan girl... women like her should stay in the dark where they belong." I giggled softly, pressing her hand like I was the sweetest daughter-in-law alive. "Mum, let's not talk about Annette today. Let her rest, hmm? I know she's happy for me and Rufus now. So sad she's gone, she can't be here to see us." Margaret's eyes glittered. "Even if she was alive, she doesn't deserve to see your wedding gown She never had your beauty, your elegance. Look at you-seven months along and still radiant. Annette looked dreadful when she was pregnant. I remember clearly. She was ugly, swollen pathetic." I smiled, drinking every word like wine. "You always know what to say to make me feel like your daughter." Her lips curved. "That's because you are, darling. You're the daughter we wanted." Oh, how that made my heart swell. She chose me. Not Annette. Never Annette. Across the room, Rufus barely looked at me. His face was distant, drawn. But I told myself it was nerves, nothing more. He'd marry me, he had to. Once the baby came, he'd never escape me again. Then Jules burst in, loud and full of excitement. "Look at you, sis! Marrying into the richest family in New York. And not just rich, but my friend Rufus too. Who would've thought?" "Who would've thought, right?" But inside, I whispered the truth only I knew. Me. I always knew. Jules leaned in, teasing, "And this baby of yours, huh? You don't even look pregnant." I beamed, proud. "Cryptic pregnancy, Jules. I'm seven months now, but in two more I'll deliver Can't wait to see Rufus's face when he holds his little Anderson heir." He clapped me on the shoulder, grinning. I let him think it was luck, but I knew better. This was destiny. When he left, I lingered alone, touching the lace of my dress, staring at my reflection. For a split second, I didn't see myself. I saw her. Annette. Scarred, Burning eyes. Hatred etched into her face. 11:41 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.