Chapter 23 ANNETTE'S POV It's been a week since the world knows I'm the woman they buried too soon. The Andersons have gone quiet. Too quiet. And silence is never peace. It's only the breath a predator takes before it pounces. I don't sleep much. I move like a shadow, guards at my back, cameras always watching. But paranoia doesn't cripple me. It sharpens me. I know Margaret is plotting. She always plots. Every morning, fresh gifts arrive at my door. Roses, diamonds, letters scrawled like blood across paper. His handwriting. Rufus. He writes like a madman, begging me to come back, calling me his eternal wife. I send everything back unopened. The man I loved is dead. What's left is just madness wearing his face. He doesn't want me. He wants the power he lost. He wants my crown. I met with Lombardo lawyers today. Papers almost finished. Don Anderson's empire will soon bear my name. The thought should make me proud. Instead, I only feel the storm building. Vince leaned against the desk, eyes dark. "That's when they'll strike hardest, bella. Blood doesn' forgive being disinherited." I held his gaze, steady as steel. "Then let them come. I'm done running." Peter laughed from the corner. "Wew. The mummy girl turned into the mummy queen. Ready to bury everyone." I rolled my eyes. "Shut up, Peter." The press wants me everywhere. Tonight it's the charity gala, with Vincenzo Lombardo on my arm. I chose a crimson dress, silk sharp enough to cut. If they want to paint me as the villain who crawled out of the grave, fine. I'll be the villain who survives. We slid into the black Mercedes, city lights streaking past. For one fragile second, I let myself breathe. Then screeching tires split the night. Headlights flared too close. And then it rained bullets. The street cracked open with gunfire. Shadows pouring out of cars. Margaret's hired ghosts. Vince's jaw clenched as he yanked the wheel. "Hold on, bella!" The car lurched, swerving hard. Glass shattered, bullets ripping through steel. Sparks screamed off the asphalt. My hands didn't even shake when I grabbed his pistol. Through the broken window, I fired back. One man dropped, another staggered. Motorcycles roared up beside us, spraying the car with lead. Sirens wailed somewhere far off, useless. The chase was fast, brutal, precise. Inside my head, the words burned. They want me buried. But I didn't crawl out of hell just to die on the roadside. A black SUV slammed into us, hard, sending our Mercedes skidding toward the bridge barrier. The world spun. Vince growled something in Italian, gripping the wheel like he could bend it to his will. Then he barked into his comms, voice sharp as gunfire. "Move! We're under fire! Now!" The car spun again, lights spinning, bullets shredding the night. The attackers closed in, closer, 0078 11:44 am closer- And all I could think was: let them come. I'll kill my way out if I have to. Then The rain was coming down like the sky wanted me dead. Vince lost control, the Mercedes skidded, and then metal screamed. We tore through the bridge barrier. For one heartbeat, I saw nothing but black waves and headlights spinning. Then we dropped. The plunge stole the air from my chest. Water swallowed us whole. Cold. Violent. The sea slammed me against the seat, waves smashing the car deeper. Bullets still rained from above, pinging the metal as we sank like a coffin. I fought for breath, but panic clawed me. My hands banged against the window, useless. Salt water burned my throat. For one second, I thought, so this is how it ends, after everything... Then Vince's fist smashed through the glass. His arm wrapped around me, strong, furious. He yanked me out, lungs bursting, dragging me into the black water. The storm was merciless. Waves twisted us, ripped us apart. I tried to hold onto him, but the sea had its own hunger. "Annette!" I tried to scream his name but one pull, and he was gone from my grasp. Darkness closed over my head. I kicked, clawed, gasped for air that wasn't there. My body screamed, my chest split with fire Somewhere above, gunshots cracked. Somewhere below, silence waited. Then everything broke into nothing. Hours later, the world woke to headlines screaming across every screen: Heiress Annette Lombardo presumed dead in bridge tragedy. Bodies unrecovered. Dead. Again. And maybe that was exactly what I needed them to believe. I woke up choking on my own breath, lungs burning like I'd swallowed fire. Every bone in me ached, skin bruised, body heavy. White ceiling. Machines beeping. A hospital. The first thing I saw was Vince. He was slumped in a chair, eyes bloodshot, hair a mess, like he hadn't left that spot in days. The second my fingers twitched, his hand clamped around mine. "You're awake," he rasped, voice breaking. I wanted to joke, to ease that look on his face, but all that came out was a cough that tore through my chest. Then I saw my father. Edwardo. Standing at the window like a storm bottled into a man. His fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were white. "They dared," he growled, every word shaking the air. "The Andersons sent you to your grave again. I swear I'll end them this time. War, Annette. I'll burn their empire." My throat was raw, but I forced it out. "Father... no. Let me fight. This is my war. My last battle. Let me finish it." He spun, eyes sharp enough to cut me. "You think I'll let you bleed again? I lost you once. I won't Chapter 23 2/3 90.7% 11:44 am lose you twice." I pushed back, stubborn as always. "You won't lose me. I'll end it all this time. And after it's done... I'll settle. I'll stop running. Me and Vince. We'll have peace." For a second, silence. Then Edwardo's face froze like I'd slapped him. Vince tensed beside me. "Father-" "No," Edwardo said slowly, eyes burning. "He's the right man for you. You're your mother's daughter. Stubborn. Reckless. You need someone who can shield you. Someone who won't break." He looked at Vince hard. "Protect her. With your life." Vince didn't hesitate. He bowed his head. "I will, father." Edwardo's gaze softened just a fraction. "Then after this, I expect peace. And grandchildren." I almost choked again-this time not on seawater. For three days, the international media exploded with speculation. Headlines scream: "Heiress Lombardo Dead?"... "Bodies Still Missing."... "Anderson Family Silent." 11:44 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.