Rick's POV

I was looking through the window absently while Mario was driving the car; I was going to meet up with my father and have dinner with my parents. My aunt, Viola and her son were joining us as well.

"I need to tell you something," Mario said uneasily, interrupting my thoughts. I gave him a questioning look. "I saw Rosa talking to Vanessa today."

"What?! What were they talking about?" I asked, confused. "Did she do something bad to Vanessa?" I added worriedly.

"No, and this is the interesting part. Moreover, I saw her giving a glass of milk to Vanessa and she took it. She gave her a paper bag from the restaurant as well. I don't know, but I feel that Rosa is planning something," Mario replied, preoccupied.

"What? She doesn't eat or drink anything you brought to her, but she drank the milk Rosa gave her?!" I mumbled, puzzled.

Mario sighed. "Vanessa thinks you try to poison her."

"What?! Is she out of her mind?!" I snapped angrily, clenching my fist. "If I wanted to kill her, I would have already done it."

"She thinks you want to get rid of the baby because you think it is Jack's baby."

"Even if he is her husband's baby, I am not a devil to kill an innocent baby," I stated in disbelief.

"I know, but she is confused. You act bad towards her; so she is suspicious and wary. But... I think someone put that thought in her head."

"Rosa? Could she go this far? And what will she get from it?" I asked, rubbing my chin, thinking.

"You. She wants you, Ricky. You know very well that she won't give up on you easily," Mario answered and gave me a knowing look.

"I will talk to Rosa." I sighed and leaned my head back, closing my eyes as Mario's phone rang.

"What?! Shit!" Mario exclaimed while talking on the phone.

"What is going on?" I asked Mario, giving him a questioning look, as he hung up the phone.

"Vanessa..."

"What happened to her?" I asked, panicked as my heart started pounding.

"She tried to run away again, but Julio caught them," Mario replied uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck.

"This woman!" I exclaimed, irritated and rolled my eyes.

"Carlo... He is in it too. He helped Rosa to keep in touch with Vanessa," Mario informed me uneasily.

"What?!" I exclaimed in frustration and clenched my fist. "We are going back to the mansion now!" I ordered in an authoratative tone.

"But Don..."

"I will talk to my father on the phone," I cut him off. He nodded and made a U-turn.

***

I rushed towards the garden as soon as I got out of the car. I gave Vanessa a death glare while she was looking at me, frightened.

I gritted my teeth as I saw Rosa giving me an arrogant smirk. I rushed towards her and grabbed her arm.

"Who do you think you are to help Vanessa to run away? You know very well I loathe traitors," I asked between gritted teeth and traveled my gaze from her to Carlo.

"Do you think I will let her stay here and befuddle you again?" she said angrily.

I tightened my grip around her arm, making her groan. "I forbid you to enter my property. Don't come close to Vanessa again. I swear if you repeat it, I will make you pay for it in a torturous way," I warned her, gripping her chin, irritated.

"If only she survives this time." She gave me a devilish look. I looked at her, puzzled. "You are just mine, Riccardo. Mine."

"What did you do to her?" I asked, panicked and looked at Vanessa who was watching us, stunned.

Rosa smirked, self-satisfied. "Someone gave her something to eat today, but unfortunately, there could be some poison in it," she replied wickedly.

My blood ran cold as I heard Rosa's confession. I looked at Rosa in fear as my stomach knotted. I remembered what Mario told me about the paper bag she gave to Vanessa.

I strangled Rosa furiously, slamming her against the tree as rage swept over me.

"Rick! Stop, please. You will kill her." Vanessa rushed towards me and grabbed my arm, trying to pull me away.

"Vanessa, are you kidding me? She poisoned you. You and... the baby..." I couldn't finish my sentence as a tight knot formed in my throat.

She gave me a compassionate look. "I haven't eaten anything she gave me since yesterday after talking to Mario about you and Rosa. I got suspicious that she tries to keep me away from you and make me hate you," Vanessa explained and gave Rosa a disgusting look. I breathed deeply in relief, closing my eyes. "Please let go of her; I don't want you to get in trouble because of her," she added softly and gave me a begging look.

"You bitch! Do you think I will let you steal Ricky from me? He is mine. I will get rid of you and your bastard," Rosa stated, irritated when I loosened my grip around her neck.

"Shut up!" I exclaimed in frustration and tightened my grip around her neck, making her choke.

"Rick!" Vanessa grabbed my wrist in panic.

"Riccardo, stop. If your father finds out about it, you will be in trouble," Mario commented firmly, trying to pull me away.

"Didn't you hear what this bitch were saying?" I shouted angrily.

"I heard, but you have to calm down. Just talk to Giovanni. Let him handle the problem," he stated firmly.

I looked at Rosa who was trying to release my grip around her neck in panic. I heaved a loud sigh and released Rosa. She held her neck, out of breath, sliding down against the tree.

"Get her out of my sight!" I demanded furiously. "I swear if you come closer to Vanessa, I will kill you." I warned Rosa. "And take that traitor to the warehouse. I will talk to him later," I ordered to Mario, pointing to Carlo, and held Vanessa's hand, dragging her towards the mansion.

***

This morning I visited my father and told him what Rosa tried to do. Then I talked to Giovanni and warned him that if I saw his daughter near Vanessa or my house, she would regret it. He promised me to keep Rosa away from Vanessa as well as me.

After talking to my mother, I left the mansion. Then I went to handle the situation about Carlo. He confessed that he helped Rosa because he was in love with her. That idiot didn't understand that Rosa was just using him to get me back; she would never give him a chance.

Once I finished my work outside, I went to the mansion. After yesterday, Vanessa finally stopped being stubborn and started eating what Arturo or the maid bought for her. She looked better now.

When I was in my father's house, Mario took her to the obstetrician; I wanted to be sure she and the baby were fine. Mario sent me a message when I was on my way to the warehouse and he informed me that Vanessa and the baby were healthy.

As soon as I walked into my study room, I took off my jacket and poured some whiskey into my glass for myself. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." I took a sip from my drink as the door opened, and Vanessa walked in, closing the door behind her.

"How are you?" I asked, resting my hand in my pocket, leaning against my desk, facing the woman who I couldn't get out of my mind and heart as much as I tried.

"We are fine. Thank you." She gave me a warm smile and caressed her baby bump affectionately. "And you? You look tired," she asked, concerned and approached me.

"I am fine." I sighed and took a sip from my drink.

"How long will I stay here?" she asked and bit her lower lip, preoccupied.

"Are you impatient to go back?" I asked sarcastically.

"No." She replied firmly. I looked at her in surprise. "I just want to know what will happen to my baby and me," she resumed, concerned.

"I don't plan to kill you or your baby, Nessa," I assured her. "I will let you go when your father and husband do what I want," I informed her firmly.

"What do you want from them?"

"It is between them and me," I replied firmly.

She sighed and ruffled her hair, lost in her thoughts.

"Don't worry. It won't take long," I muttered and sipped my drink sadly.

"Fine," she murmured gloomily and walked towards the door. When she wanted to open the door, she screamed in pain and held her belly.

I placed my glass on the desk quickly and rushed towards her.

"What happened?" I asked in panic as I rested my hand on her back.