Chapter 6 RUFUS' POV I came home in the morning with Maisie hanging on my arm. I already had my excuse ready. If anyone asked, I'd just say I ran into her at the gate. Nothing more. In my other hand, I carried a brand-new bag and some jewelry. I knew my woman was mad at me last night. A little gift would smooth things over. I called Annette first thing. No answer. I tried again. Still nothing. My jaw clenched. I rang the maid instead. "Sir," her voice shook through the line, "Mrs. Anderson... she left last night. In a hurry." My stomach dropped. "What! Where? Who the fuck left?" you, 'Miss Annette," she whispered. "She took her suitcase. I thought she went abroad with sir.. she told me you were waiting outside." 'Fuck!" I roared. My hand tightened around my phone. Maisie flinched beside me. 'Calm down, Rufus," she said softly, rubbing my arm. "Maybe she just went to a friend's place." laughed bitterly, low and sharp. "Annette has no fucking friends but me. Only me. So where the hell did she go!" My voice thundered through the house. I turned on my men, on my guards. "Why the fuck didn't anyone tell me she left? You all blind? You all useless pieces of shit?" They dropped their heads, shaking. I shoved one aside and stormed upstairs. My chest was or ire. I pushed into our room, ready to rip it apart, but then I saw it. An envelope on the bedside table. grabbed it, ripped it open. Divorce papers. Her wedding ring. And a USB. My hands shook as shoved the USB into the laptop. Then I heard it. My own voice. My groans. Maisie's moans. The video from last night. Every word every sound echoing back at me. My smile died. The room spun. Rage slammed through me, so raw I smashed the glass table with my fist. Shards flew everywhere. 'Fuck!" I yelled. I called Annette. Once. Twice. Ten times. Twenty. No answer. Not a single one My throat burned. I was ready to explain, ready to tell her everything, but she was gone. Behind me, Maisie laughed. Low, smug. "Well, looks like your wife finally grew a spine." turned, fury snapping out of me. My palm cracked across her face before I even thought about 'Don't you ever," I snarled, voice rough and shaking, "talk about Annette like that. She's mine. D you hear me, Maisie? Mine." *** I lost it. My fury boiled over and I smashed everything in my room. The lamp, the laptop, even the fucking mirror on the wall. Glass everywhere. Maisie shrieked and bolted out, her heels clattering down the hall while I tore through the room like a storm. My hands were bleeding, but I didn't give a shit. Chapter 5 11:35 am I called my men in, my voice hoarse. "Find her. Track her phone. Track her cards. Check the goddamn airport if you have to." Minutes later they came back pale, heads lowered. "Boss... Mrs. Anderson boarded a flight last night. Europe. She used her maiden name." Everything inside me went cold. That nightmare I had, the one where she walked away from me... it was happening. My chest felt like it was being ripped open, deeper than any bullet wound. How the fuck did she find out? I was careful. Always careful. Maisie was just supposed to be a distraction. A little fire on the side, nothing more. Annette was colder these last few days, but I brushed it off. I thought she'd come around if I smothered her with sweet words. I didn't see it. Didn't see her slipping away. And now she was gone. "Get the jet ready in thirty minutes," I barked. "I'm bringing her back. I don't care how, I'll fucking beg her if I have to." I was halfway down the stairs when I heard it-a scream that shook the whole house. I stormed into the hall. The maid and guards were in chaos, shouting over each other. Maisie lay at the bottom of the stairs, blood pooling under her head. "Move!" I roared, shoving everyone aside. I lifted her into my arms. She was pale, lips trembling. Her blood smeared across my shirt. "Boss, the jet-" my assistant called. "Cancel the fucking jet. Now. We're going to the hospital." I carried Maisie out, threw her in the backseat, and we tore through the city. The ER was chaos when we arrived. Nurses rushed her onto a stretcher. I followed, hands shaking with rage and something else I didn't want to name. "Sir, step back. We need space," one doctor ordered. "Do whatever you need but save her!" I snapped. Another doctor leaned over her, barking orders. "Get me a transfusion started. Check her blood pressure, it's dropping." "Clear the hallway, she needs oxygen now," a nurse shouted. I paced outside, fists buried in my hair. Blood was drying on my skin. My mind was still on Annette, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw Maisie crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, lifeless. After what felt like forever, the doctor finally came out, wiping sweat off his forehead. "She's stable for now," he said. "But the fall was bad. We need to monitor her closely. The accident could cost her life... or the child she's carrying." I froze. My mouth went dry. "Child? What child?" The doctor nodded. "She's pregnant. 2 weeks." The floor tilted under me. My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe. Pregnant. Maisie was pregnant? 11:35 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.