Rick's POV

I was sipping my whiskey absently in my study room when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

I turned around and placed my glass on my desk as the door opened.

"Did you talk to Luke?" I asked as I sat down on the chair.

"Yes, he will inform us about the time and place," Mario replied. I nodded and looked away, lost in my thoughts. "The doctor called me today after getting Vanessa's blood test results. He told me that there is nothing serious, but she has to eat properly and take her prenatal vitamins. I bought the vitamins he told me to give her."

"Fine," I mumbled and sipped from my drink.

"She doesn't eat properly, saying she doesn't have appetite," Mario informed me, looking concerned.

"I don't care," I muttered dryly and finished my drink in a sip.

"But she is pregnant."

I clenched my fist. "Then she has to think about her baby and eat. If she isn't a mother material, it's not my problem," I commented nonchalantly as I stood up to pour myself a glass of whiskey.

He breathed deeply and suggested hopefully. "I think it will be better if she stays in one of the guest rooms. The room where she stays isn't suitable for a pregnant woman."

"No, she will stay there. It is the most suitable place for her. She doesn't deserve more than that. She isn't my guest," I stated firmly.

"Ricky, be reasonable. She has to pull herself together. However, when you act like this and keep her in that dark place, she will feel more depressed. It is dangerous for the baby."

"I don't care about that bastard's baby," I blurted out and finished my drink in a sip before slamming the glass onto the desk. "Especially when she doesn't care about the baby herself."

Mario heaved a loud sigh and informed me. "She wants to talk to you."

"I told you I don't want to see her face," I reminded him firmly.

"She says it is important."

"I don't care," I said, annoyed and rubbed my temple; my head was pounding. Despite the fact I took a painkiller an hour ago, it didn't pass.

"Then let me take her to a guest room; she looks worse than before. If you don't believe me, see her yourself then," Mario insisted, looking worried.

Vanessa's POV

I was pacing back and forth in the room while waiting for Rosa to send me something to eat. She visited me here secretly a few days ago and informed me that Rick was trying to poison me to get rid of my baby.

Firstly, I didn't believe her, but when she showed me what he did after finding out about my pregnancy, I wasn't sure about anything. Deep down in my heart, I didn't want to believe her, but I couldn't take a chance. I wouldn't let anyone to hurt my baby.

I wanted to tell Rick the truth about our baby, but Mario told me he didn't want to talk to me. So I decided to be careful till I told Rick about our baby.

Rosa promised me to help me to escape from here as well; she was going to inform my father about my whereabouts.

I looked towards the door as the door opened. One of Rick's henchmen, Arturo walked into the room, holding a tray in his hands.

"I don't want to eat," I refused as he put the tray on the bed.

My heart started beating faster as Rick walked into the room after Arturo, resting his hands in his pockets, and ordered Arturo to leave us alone.

"Eat!" he demanded in a bossy tone.

I didn't say anything or look at him.

Rick sighed, annoyed and approached me. Then he grabbed my chin and lifted my head to face him. His expression changed as he looked at me. For a moment, I thought he looked worried before a blank expression appeared on his face again.

"You have to eat. At least, one time think about someone else other than yourself. Despite the fact this baby's parents are the most selfish people in the world, he or she is innocent," he commented nonchalantly, looking me in the eyes. "And it will be my new trump card for your bastard husband," he added cockily.

I pulled back and closed my eyes, shaking my head. I felt annoyed at myself for thinking that he was really worried about the baby.

"He. It is a boy. And he isn't Jack's baby," I informed Rick firmly.

He looked at me in shock. A few seconds later, a sarcastic smirk appeared on his face. "Oh... So there was someone else too. One time a cheater, always a cheater."

"I didn't cheat on him, excluding that night with you!" I stated, annoyed. "He is... your baby," I confessed firmly.

Rick burst out laughing. "Do you think I am still that fool who is blindly in love with you? I will not believe your lies again. I used protection," he declared, grabbing my chin tightly, and gave me a death glare. "Do you really think I would like to have a baby with a woman like you?" he asked mockingly without releasing my chin. "Stop telling me new lies," he warned me angrily and pushed my head back, giving me a disgusting look.

"Rick..." He gave me a murderous look and stormed out without letting me finish my sentence.

Rick's POV

"Take her to the farthest guest room from my bedroom," I ordered to Mario as soon as I left Vanessa's room, and then I went to my study room while thinking about her words.

Can it be possible? No, she was lying again. She just wants to protect her baby and herself.

"Ricky, are you okay? You look strange," Mario asked, concerned as he followed me into my study room.

"Yes... I... I am fine," I mumbled and ran my hand through my hair absently.

"What did she tell you?" he asked suspiciously.

I heaved a loud sigh and approached the bar cabinet. After pouring some whiskey into my glass, I turned towards him and replied mockingly. "Another lie, of course." I clenched my free hand angrily and finished my drink in a sip.

"Riccardo, slow down or you will get drunk before it is evening," Mario warned me worriedly.

"I don't care. I am so tired of everything," I confessed honestly and leaned my hands on the bar cabinet after placing my glass on it. "She messes up with me," I muttered, closing my eyes.

"What did she tell you, fratello?" Mario asked, concerned and rested his hand on my shoulder.

I heaved a loud sigh and turned towards him. "She told me that the baby is... mine."

"What?!" He looked at me with wide eyes. "Umm... What will you do now?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Nothing. I am not a fool to believe her lies again." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Are you sure? That night..."

"I used protection, Mario." I cut him off and rubbed my forehead.

"But it isn't hundred percent effective," he reminded me firmly.

I breathed deeply and approached the window, resting my hands in my pockets, lost in my thoughts.

"If you want, I can get information about it, but I don't think Vanessa lied," Mario said, interrupting my thoughts.

"Fine," I mumbled without turning back. "Umm... Did she eat anything?" I asked, trying to hide the worry in my voice. She really looked bad when I saw her.

"I don't know. I told Arturo to bring her something to eat and take her to the guest room."

"Good." I nodded, looking through the window, lost in my thoughts.

Vanessa's POV

I looked around curiously as Arturo bought me to a different room. It was so spacious and tastefully decorated. Probably, it was one of the guest rooms.

"You will stay here from now," he informed me nonchalantly.

"Why?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.

"The boss' order," he replied firmly. "The maid bought you something to eat," he added, gesturing the tray on the vanity table, and left, closing the door behind him as well as locking it.

I breathed deeply and approached the vanity table; the food looked delicious and mouthwatering. I was starving, but I couldn't eat it. I thought after telling Rick about our baby, he would soften up, but he didn't believe me. So I should be careful till Rick believed me about our baby.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Carlo walked in, holding a little paper bag in his hand. Rosa sent me something to eat with him again.

"Here," Carlo said in a low tone and handed me the bag. "Rosa asked me to tell you that she arranged everything. Be ready, tomorrow night you are going back to New York," he informed me.

"Thank you." I gave him a grateful look, grabbing the paper bag.