Vanessa's POV

"Don't do anything to Rick, please." I begged while tears were running down my cheeks uncontrollably.

"Whatever happens to him will be your choice, love," he said mockingly.

My throat tightened as despair shattered me. I nodded without managing to say anything.

"Great! I will wait for you here. And don't dare to do anything stupid," he warned me firmly.

After wiping the tears off my cheeks, I opened the door and walked out of the door barely, Rick gave me a charming smile and approached me. He rushed towards me happily and hugged me tightly in his arms. Then he cupped my cheeks and placed a soft kiss on my lips. As he wanted to pull back slightly, I hugged him back tightly and breathed in his scent as my heart tightened while thinking about that it was our last hug.

"Where is your suitcase?" Rick asked, puzzled.

I wrapped my arms around myself as I felt cold despite the fact the weather was warm, and I bit my lower lip, averting my gaze.

"I... I won't go with you," I mumbled while trying to hold my tears back. It felt like I was dying.

"What?" he asked, stunned.

"I won't go with you. I changed my mind. And... I... I can't continue this anymore," I said while my heart shattered into pieces.

"Is it a joke?" Rick asked warily. "Nessa, does anyone threaten you? Tell me, please, amore mio," he asked worriedly, resting his hands on my arms.

"No. It is my decision. I... I don't love you anymore."

I am sorry, Rick.

Please forgive me. It is for you. I won't let Jack do anything to you. You are the love of my life.

He looked at me in shock and pulled his hands away. "No... You are lying." Rick shook his head vigorously and ran his trembling hand through his hair. "Are you afraid of your father?" he asked, concerned, looking me in the eyes. "Don't worry. I will protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you, amore mio. You are my everything. I love you so much." He cupped my cheeks, leaning his forehead against my forehead.

I closed my eyes while I felt like I couldn't breathe anymore. I felt numb all over my body.

"I can't. It isn't because of my father," I mumbled as I pulled back and pursed my lips together, trying to hold my tears back.

"I don't believe you. It was yesterday when you told me you loved me, and we decided to run away together. How could your feelings change over night?" Rick asked, unconvinced, full of pain and sadness in his eyes. "Tell me. Who is threatening you?" he asked, clenching his fist. "Your father? Jack? Or someone else?"

I breathed deeply and shook my head. "No one."

"Nessa, stop lying! Tell me!" Rick exclaimed, irritated, grabbing my arms.

"Rick! No one is threatening me. It was good to be with you, but running away with you... You can't provide the life I used to, Rick. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a small apartment," I said while my heart sank. He looked at me, stunned. "You were just an adventure to me. I can't give up on my luxurious life for a some affair. You can't give me the life I am used to," I resumed, trying to hide the devastation in my voice.

I clenched my fist tightly, digging my nails into my palm while looking at my Rick's eyes. Seeing him hurt crashed my heart, but I didn't have another choice. I wouldn't let him die because of me. It was better to know that he was still alive than to see him die even if we weren't together anymore.

"Good bye! And don't bother me again," I resumed, trying to control my voice, and walked away without letting him say anything, leaving the love of my life in despair.

I will always love you, Rick. Please forgive me.

I said with my inner voice while tears ran down my cheeks uncontrollably.

"Smart girl!" Jack gave me a disgusting smirk as soon as I closed the door behind me after walking into the garden.

I clenched my fist without telling him anything and wiped my tears off my cheeks. I loathed this man so deeply. Because of him, I lost the love of my life, my Rick.

"From now, there won't be another man in your life, just me. And if you try to meet up with your ex-boyfriend secretly behind my back, you know what will happen to that bartender," Jack warned me.

"I did what you wanted. So stay away from Rick. Don't do anything to him," I stated firmly while holding myself hard from punching him in the face.

"Of course. I will keep my promise if you stay by my side and don't go to see him again. And we will get married as soon as possible. You will be just mine, my beautiful fiancée," he declared in an authoritative tone and tried to stroke my cheek, but I pulled back, feeling nauseous by his touch.

"I will not be yours. You want to be Vincent Campell's son-in-law. You will be, but nothing more than that. We will never be a real wife and husband. Never," I warned him firmly and folded my arms over my chest.

His jaw clenched. "Fine, but I am sure you will change your mind about us after getting married," he said arrogantly and gave me a seductive look.

"Only in your dreams!" I exclaimed sarcastically and walked towards the mansion without letting him tell anything. I clenched my fist while tears started running down my cheeks.

***

I was leaning against the headboard, looking at my photo with Rick on my phone while crying desperately. It had been two days since our breakup. I missed him a lot. It was unbearable to stay away from him. Every passing day without him was real torture to me. I didn't know how I would live anymore.

I wiped my tears off my cheeks quickly, hiding my phone when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened and the maid walked in. She informed me that Jack asked her to tell me that he was waiting for me to get ready in the living room; he was taking me out on a date.

I heaved a loud sigh and nodded. My father told me that Jack was planning to go on a date with me tonight. When I refused, saying I didn't feel good, he didn't listen to me, and he told me to be ready when Jack came.

"Why are we here?" I asked Jack, confused as he parked the car in front of Stardust.

"Why not?!" He gave me a devilish smirk.

"I won't go here with you," I stated firmly as I understood why he brought me here. He wanted to show Rick that I chose Jack over him.

"You will. We will go to this damned nightclub, and your bartender will see with his own eyes that you are mine," he stated between gritted teeth and got out of the car.

I gritted my teeth in frustration and squeezed the strap of my bag tightly.

As I didn't get out of the car, Jack opened the door of the car for me and grabbed my wrist, pulling me out angrily.

"Jack! Let go of me!" I protested, trying to pull my arm away, but he tightened his grip around my wrist.

"Shut up and come with me! And you will act like you love me. Got it?!" he demanded, giving me a warning look, and pulled me towards the entrance, holding my hand tightly.

I bit my lower lip nervously, looking for Rick while Jack was leading us towards the VIP section. There was a tight knot in my throat.

Jack wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me towards his chest as we sat down on the couch. When I wanted to pull away, he tightened his grip around me.

"Don't make me angry, Vanessa. Otherwise, you know what will happen to your lovely bartender. By the way, didn't you miss him? Look what a good man I am, letting my fiancée see her ex." He gave me a disgusting smirk, cupping my cheek.

I gritted my teeth, giving him a death glare. I hated this man.

When I looked away, I saw Rick staring at us in frustration.

When I wanted to pull away from Jack, he leaned towards my ear and whispered arrogantly. "You look sexy when you are angry."

I clenched my fist, feeling disgusting, and tried to pull away. I felt frustrated.

When I looked at Rick, he was still looking at us, full of hate, disappointment and anger in his eyes. I pursed my lips together and stood up abruptly, averting my gaze as seeing him looking at me like this made my heart sink. I needed to splash some water on my face; it felt like I was going to faint any minute.

"I am going to the restroom," I informed Jack dryly and rushed towards the restroom without letting him say anything.

Once I walked in, I rushed into the cubicle, ignoring the women who stared at me like they saw a ghost.

As soon as I closed the door of the cubicle in the restroom, I burst out crying, leaning against the door.