OPEN $ 5.00 % Chapter 12 The investigation report was soon laid out on Sebastian's desk . Yes - the fire had been real . The point of origin was determined to be the storage room , where traces of gasoline were found . A severely burned female body was recovered from the scene . DNA results ... confirmed it was Vivienne Hartley . The time of death matched the fire's timeline . No evidence of foul play was found . Every piece of evidence pointed to one conclusion - Suicide . The word stabbed at Sebastian's eyes like a shard of glass . He flipped through the report again and again . He knew every word , but strung together , they felt utterly foreign . He had thought freedom would come rushing in - that the marriage that had bound him for three years was finally over . The obstacle between him and Serena was gone . At last , he could be with the woman he loved openly , without seeing Vivienne's sorrowful face , without enduring her suffocating , careful affection . But there was no freedom . No relief . No joy . Only a heavy , unnameable emptiness - and irritation , crawling under his skin like ants . It felt as though someone had carved out a piece of his chest , leaving a gaping hole that whistled with a cold , restless wind . He pushed open the study door , almost without realizing where he was going , and made his way to the master bedroom . The room was as neat as ever , but eerily silent , stripped of warmth . On the vanity sat the perfume she used every day . In the air still lingered a faint trace of her scent . Drawn by an inexplicable pull , he opened the walk - in closet . Most of her clothes were still hanging there , perfectly arranged - except for one gaping emptiness in the center , as if someone had carved a piece straight out of his chest . He remembered his assistant mentioning in a trembling voice , " Before the fire , Mrs. Hartley seemed to have sorted through her belongings ... and threw out a lot of things . " What had she thrown away ? Everything that carried his shadow ? Every trace of him ? The thought sent another sharp twist of irritation through him . That night , he lay in the massive bed , staring into the darkness . He couldn't sleep . For three years , he had grown used to the presence of another person breathing beside him , even if he never held her , even if he always Chapter 12 W WebNovel 4.3 * FREE Google Play OPEN I knew you were trouble when you walked in 60.00 % turned his back to her . Now that presence was gone - leaving behind a silence so loud it felt like mockery . Restless , he rose and wandered the halls like a ghost until he found himself in the small study Vivienne had favored . Her desk still held several open books , and beside them lay a thick notebook . He had never cared about what she read or what she wrote . He opened it on a whim . Inside were not tear - stained confessions or maudlin diary entries- But reading notes , gardening tips , and even clippings of Langford Enterprises ' current projects , with her own neat handwriting scribbled in the margins . Her observations were sharp , precise - sharper than some of the executives he actually paid . He snapped the notebook shut , that strange , suffocating weight in his chest pressing harder . He told himself it was nothing . Merely the discomfort of losing a familiar presence , the natural melancholy of a life extinguished , perhaps even the practical headache of how to answer to the Hartleys now that their daughter was dead . Yes - that was all it was . It had to be , Because Sebastian could not - would not - let himself be the kind of man who mourned Vivienne . He told himself he had never loved her . Not once . Not ever Chapter 12 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.