Vanessa's POV

He nodded and left after checking if someone was in the hallway or not.

I instantly went to the bathroom and started eating the sandwich. As soon as I finished eating, I went back to the room.

A few minutes later, the door opened and Mario walked in. He frowned as he saw the tray.

"Why don't you eat? It is bad for the baby. You have to take care of your baby," he commented, concerned. "Ricky is worried about you too."

"For sure," I said mockingly.

Mario sighed and took a few steps towards me. "Believe me he really loves you, but he is angry at you because of what happened."

"I did everything to protect him," I said, desperate while trying to hold my tears back.

"He needs some time." Mario gave me a sympathetic look. "Do you need something?"

"Where is Rick? I want to talk to him."

"He is busy now," he replied, giving me a compassionate look.

I heaved a loud sigh in annoyance and walked towards the window.

"How long will I..." I didn't finish my sentence as I saw Rick and Rosa in the garden; they were kissing. I clenched my fist in frustration. Seeing him with Rosa was unbearable. "Yes, I see your boss is so busy," I commented sarcastically and pointed to the window with a head gesture.

Mario walked towards me and looked down through the window.

"How... How long are they dating?" I asked uneasily.

"They aren't." I gave him an unconvinced look, folding my arms over my chest. He sighed and resumed. "They were dating before Ricky ran away to New York. He broke up with her a few weeks later after his brother's death. But... she still loves him and..."

"They don't look like a couple who broke up."

"Let's say they aren't officially together." Mario rubbed his neck uncomfortably.

"I got it," I mumbled sadly and looked at Rick and Rosa again. Rick was telling her something hotly while she looked sad.

"She isn't a woman who gives up easily. So it is hard to Ricky to convince her that he doesn't want her."

"Of course, it will be hard for him. How can he convince her he doesn't want her if they kiss each other in every opportunity?" I commented in a sardonic tone.

"You have to eat something." Mario changed the subjects and pointed to the tray.

"No, I won't. Why does he want me to eat something this much? Is he planning to poison me?" I blurted out angrily while Rosa wrapped her arms around Rick's neck. I gritted my teeth and walked away from the window as seeing them sank my heart.

"What?! Rick would never try to kill you, Vanessa." Mario looked at me in disbelief.

"Maybe not killing me, but he could try to get rid of my baby," I said sadly and caressed my bump gently.

"Don't be ridiculous. Didn't you tell him it is his baby? Why did he do anything like this after it? And even if it wasn't his baby, he wouldn't do anything bad to the baby. Don't you know Ricky?!" he tried to assure me.

"He doesn't believe that the baby is his baby," I reminded sadly. "And I am not sure anymore that I know him."

Mario gave me a compassionate look. "Just give him some time," he said warmly and walked towards the vanity table. He grabbed the fork and took a few pieces of the fish and salad. Then he sipped the orange juice while I was looking at him, puzzled. "Look! If there was poison in them, I wouldn't taste them myself." He winked at me and left, leaving me alone.

I ruffled my hair, lost in my thoughts and approached the window. Rosa was talking on the phone while pacing back and forth in the garden. I bit my lower lip, staring at her while resting my hand on my belly.

Did Rosa lie to me about Rick? Maybe she told me all those bad things about Rick to make me hate him.

***

I tossed and turned in the bed, trying to sleep, but I couldn't fall asleep. My mind was occupied with Rick and Rosa. I didn't know if I should trust Rosa or not.

I heaved a loud sigh and got up. Using the opportunity that they didn't lock me anymore, I went downstairs while searching for a phone, but they hid all phones in the house.

I stopped walking as I heard noises coming from the place where they had kept me before. I tiptoed towards the room quietly and looked inside without drawing attention, hiding behind the wall.

My eyes widened in shock as I saw Rick punching a man violently while two henchmen were holding the man tightly. I hadn't seen him this angry before. He looked like a wild animal. Seeing him like this made me feel horrifying.

"Riccardo!" Mario called him and pointed to me with a head gesture as he saw me staring at Rick, stunned.

Rick turned around, furrowing his eyebrows. His expression changed as soon as he saw me.

"What are you doing here?" he snapped angrily. I looked at him without saying anything, shocked. He breathed deeply and ordered to Mario. "Take her to her room."

Mario approached me in quick steps. "Vanessa, come on," he whispered as I didn't move, still staring at Rick. Mario sighed as he grabbed my arm gently and led me out quickly.

***

I was sitting on the bed, resting my hand on my stomach while the scenes from earlier was replying in my mind.

Suddenly, the door opened and Rick walked in, closing the door behind him.

"If you stay in a guest room, it doesn't mean you are my guest. I didn't tell them to lock the door because you could use the kitchen when you want to eat something. Just the kitchen. You aren't allowed to go to other rooms, the garden or etc," he stated in an authoritative tone, resting his hands on his hips.

"Or what? You will do me the same what you did to that man?!" I asked mockingly. He looked at me without saying anything. "You have really changed."

"No, I haven't. I was always like this," he denied nonchalantly.

I shook my head, unconvinced and caressed my belly tenderly as my baby kicked. Every time when my little one heard Rick's voice, he kicked. My boy was more active when he felt his father's presence.

"The Rick I know was a kind and gentle person," I commented sadly as I stood up and approached him.

"It was just a facade. I had to keep a low profile," he stated firmly.

I gave him a fake smile. "I don't believe you, and I hate you because what you did to my Rick," I said gloomily.

His jaw clenched. Rick grabbed my arm and pushed me against the wall. "If you think I was a good man, then it was you who turned me to the man who you don't approve. Now you have to bear the consequences," he whispered in my ear and ran his lips along my neck without kissing me, sending shivers down my spine.

"What was this?" he asked, puzzled, furrowing his eyebrows as he pulled back and looked at my stomach. He was leaning against my baby bump; so he felt the baby kick as well.

"Our baby kicked," I informed him softly and rested my hand on my belly, smiling tenderly.

Rick opened and closed his mouth without managing to say anything and looked at my belly. He cleared his throat and said dryly. "Your baby, not mine."

"Rick! It is your baby," I commented, irritated and wanted to walk away, but he grabbed my arm tightly and pushed me against the wall roughly. "Rick! Let go of me!" I snapped angrily.

"I won't. I told you I used protection, but you still say the same thing. It seems I have to remind you of that night," he commented angrily and started kissing my neck feverishly.

"Rick, stop!" I demanded, trying to push him back.

"Why? You didn't told me to stop that night or the other night you spent in my bed," he reminded, cupping my chin.

"Because I loved you."

He raised his eyebrow. "So you don't love me anymore?! Or more correctly, stopped pretending that you are in love with me?" he asked mockingly.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. "Yes, I have stopped loving you since I found you are a bloody mafia," I lied and gave him a dirty look.

Rick burst out laughing and leaned towards me, running his finger over my lower lip. I gulped nervously and pressed my legs together as I felt tingling between them. 

"Why? I think I am your type. A ruthless criminal," he commented provocatively and placed a kiss on the corner of my lips.

I shook my head sadly. "You don't know anything about me."

Rick smirked sarcastically. "No, on the contrary, I think I know you very well. You aren't that innocent angel I thought you were," he stated arrogantly.

I gave him a dirty look and pushed him back angrily. I wiped my tears off my cheeks, turning my back towards Rick as I walked away from him.

"When will you let me go?" I asked, tired.

"When I want," he replied dryly. "If you obey me, you will have a good life while you stay here," he added firmly and left, closing the door behind him.