Rick's POV

Once I walked into the Campbell mansion without drawing attention, using the back door, I sent a message to Vanessa, informing her that I wanted to talk to her and I was waiting for him in front of the back door. Today it was her wedding day with that bastard. It was taking place in her parent's mansion. I had to talk to her before she got married to Jack.

When Vanessa told me that she wanted to break up with me because she didn't want to give up on her luxurious lifestyle, I was so angry at her as well as I was disappointed in her. However, after for a while, I got suspicious of her decision after thinking about that day with a clear mind. Especially after seeing her with Jack at Stardust.

She wasn't the same Vanessa who I knew. I could see the sadness and desperation in her eyes. There must be something else to force her to break up with me. I was sure of it.

I had to talk to her and assure her that she shouldn't be afraid of anything. I would do everything to protect her. She could trust me.

I opened a message quickly as my phone buzzed.

'Rick, please leave. If Jack or my father sees you here, you will be in trouble.'

'I won't go anywhere till we talk.'

'There is nothing to talk about. Please leave before someone sees you here.'

'If you don't come here in five minutes, I will come to your room myself.'

'No, Rick. Fine. I am coming.'

I sighed and placed my phone into my pocket.

I was pacing back and forth while waiting for Vanessa. I felt so nervous. I had to convince her to tell me the real reason of our breakup.

"Well, well, well. Look who is here!" I turned around as I heard Jack's voice.

He was resting his hand in his pocket, giving me an arrogant look while there were four armed men beside him.

"Didn't anyone tell you that it is inappropriate to hit on an engaged woman?!" he asked sarcastically, raising his eyebrow.

"Don't act like you are in love with Vanessa. Both of us know why this charade is," I stated confidently.

"It doesn't matter if we love each other or not, Vanessa will be my wife today," he said arrogantly, looking me in the eyes.

"Don't be so sure of it," I commented mockingly.

"Do you still think Vanessa cares about you? You are such a fool." Jack burst out laughing. "If she cared about you, she wouldn't show me these messages," he added, pulling Vanessa's phone out of his pocket, and showed me the messages I sent to Nessa. "She told me you are bothering her and asked me to make you understand that she isn't interested in you."

"I don't believe you. I won't go anywhere before talking to Vanessa," I declared between gritted teeth.

"Vanessa won't come here," he stated firmly.

"What did you do to her?" I asked worriedly, clenching my fist.

"What could I do to my bride?" He gave me a mocking smirk. "But for you, I can't say the same. I will teach you not to mess up with me. I won't let anyone to steal what is mine," Jack added, giving me a devilish smirk.

"What is yours?" I asked mockingly. "Nessa was never yours. And she will never be yours. She loves me, not you. Don't fool yourself," I added confidently and gave him a cocky smirk.

His jaw clenched as he gave me a death glare. "I would gladly show you how she will be happy with me, but I have another plan for you. So unfortunately, you won't see our happy family life," Jack commented wickedly and gestured to his men to catch me.

When they wanted to approach me, I punched one of them in the face and kicked the other one. Suddenly, someone hit me from back, making me lose my consciousness.

***

When I opened my eyes barely, I heard Jack talking to one of his men, but I couldn't understand what they were talking. I grimaced in pain, holding my stomach, and looked around, but it was dark and there wasn't anyone else, excluding us. However, I heard the sound of waves.

"Look who opened his eyes!" Jack commented sarcastically as he approached me and gripped my hair tightly. "I wouldn't mind to kill you in a tortuous way, but you know I am marrying today. So I don't have much time. I want to go back to my beautiful bride and devour her in our wedding night tonight. Meanwhile, you will drown in this cold water alone," he added, giving me a devilish look, pulling my hair roughly, and pulled a gun out of the top of his pants.

I groaned in pain, squeezing my eyes shut as he shot me in the stomach.

"Throw this bastard to the water," he ordered to the men and walked away while I was groaning in pain, lying on the ground.

The men grabbed my arms and pulled me towards the water while my eyelids were getting heavier. The pain was unbearable.

As we reached the shore, the other two men grabbed my legs, and they threw me into the water.

"Riccardo! Riccardo, open your eyes."

I opened my eyes barely and mumbled while lying on the ground. "Domenico..."

"Fratello, you have to be strong," my brother said nervously, grabbing my hand.

"I am sorry, Nico...It was my fault. Because of me you..."

"Don't talk nonsense! It isn't your fault. Now you shouldn't give up. My brother was always strong and stubborn. You have to fight for your love," he stated firmly.

"She doesn't love me," I mumbled sadly.

"She needs you, Ricky," he said worriedly as he straightened and walked away slowly.

"Nico! Nico! Don't go!" I shouted as I tried to stand up to stop my brother, but he had already disappeared.

"Riccardo!" I looked behind as I heard my father's voice. "Don't leave me, Riccardo. My son."

"Dad..." I mumbled barely before everything darkened.

Vanessa's POV

I was lying on the bed, hugging a pillow against me tightly in my bedroom in Jack's mansion. It had been a week since my wedding. That awful day which crashed my whole world.

I knew something bad would happen when Jack snatched the phone from my hand and saw Rick's messages. As much as I tried to stop him, his men didn't let me intervene. I was praying that nothing bad happened to Rick, and Jack left him alone after showing him who won, boosting his ego.

When he came back, Jack told me that he didn't do anything to Rick, and they just talked. However, after our wedding, when we were alone, he showed me the video about how they hit Rick and how... Jack shot him before throwing him into the water.

After seeing that video, I was like a ghost walking in the house. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw nightmares about Rick. It was my fault; I couldn't protect him. Moreover, he died without knowing that I truly loved him.

One time, I even tried to kill myself, taking a lot of pills, but my mother found me unconscious in my room when she visited me, and they took me to the hospital in time. Since that day, they didn't leave me alone; there was always someone to keep an eye on me.

When my father asked Jack, accusing him that he did something bad to me, making me attempt a suicide, Jack told my parents everything: about Rick and our agreement. Now my family knew that Jack and I weren't a real husband and wife, and we didn't share the same bed.

I talked to my father after that day and told him that I wanted to get divorce, but he didn't let me, and he told me that he wouldn't let me ruin their business. However, after that day, at least, my father didn't force me to become a real married couple with Jack.

I was sure it was my mother who stopped him from intervening. On the other hand, probably my father was afraid of that I could try to kill myself again and ruin their partnership; so he listened to my mother and didn't intervene.

"Are you crying again?" Jack asked in annoyance as he walked into my bedroom.

I gritted my teeth without saying anything, ignoring him. Even seeing his face made me nauseated. Every cell in my body loathed this man deeply.

"Get ready! My father invited us for dinner. Your parents will be there too," he informed me, resting his hands on his hips.

"Go alone. I don't want to go," I mumbled, closing my eyes.

"I didn't ask your opinion. You are coming with me. End of discussion!" Jack stated firmly as he approached me and grabbed my wrist, pulling me up.