Vanessa's POV

I bit my lower lip, thinking, and looked at the door as I was about to pass Rick's study room. I approached the door quietly and decided to listen o what they were talking about.

Antonio looked furious as he saw me with Rick. I had to know if he tried to do something bad to me or my baby. I was so nervous. I hoped Rick could manage to calm him down. 

"You slept with Angela. And I know you two have a daughter who you hide from your own family. I know you visit them secretly," Antonio stated angrily.

I felt numb all over my body as I heard what his father told Rick.

Is it true?

Who was Angela?

Suddenly, I heard Mario and Arturo's voices coming from far. I walked away from the study room, lost in my thoughts before they saw me eavesdropping.

Rick has a child... Is he still together with the mother of the child or not?

Did he started dating that woman after our breakup or he has already have a child when we were together?

Maybe he is still together with that woman, and he changed his attitude towards me to befuddle me that he still loves me because my state didn't affect the baby and I wouldn't try to run away again. Then when I give birth, he will take my son and kill me or give me back to Jack.
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I pursed my lips together while tears ran down my cheeks and I leaned against the door for support as I felt slightly dizzy. I walked into my room in slow steps and closed the door behind me.

***

I was walking in the garden absently when suddenly, something flied over the tall brick fence. I covered my face reflexively, resting my hand on my baby bump protectively as I pulled away.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as I saw a stone wrapped with a paper near my feet. I bent down carefully and took the stone. I opened the paper carefully and started reading the letter. Fear twisted my gut, and a tight knot formed in my throat as I read it.

If you don't want me to finish what I started with your ex, don't try to get back together with him. You will be back soon. So don't get used to his presence.

If you tell him anything about this letter, I will destroy all your loved ones; and I will start from your lovely Sicilian and your bastard.

Don't think I won't find out what happens there. I have my ears everywhere.

Your husband.

I crumpled the letter in my hand in frustration while tears ran down my cheeks. I was tired of everything. I just wanted a simple life, but it seemed I couldn't get this wish anytime soon.

If Rick didn't find out that he was the father of my baby, I could ask him to help me to go somewhere Jack couldn't find me. However, now I was totally trapped. Rick wouldn't let me leave and take our baby with me. On the other hand, I couldn't stay here and put my loved ones' lives in danger. Besides, I wasn't sure Rick even wanted me or not.

I wiped my tears off my cheeks and hid the paper in my pocket quickly as soon as I heard Rick's voice coming behind me.

"Did you cry?" he asked, raising his eyebrow, and grabbed my chin while looking at my face attentively.

"No," I replied dryly and pulled away.

Rick looked at me, stunned. He cleared his throat and informed me warmly. "I bought chocolate gelato. Your favourite."

"I don't want," I said coldly and wanted to go back to my room.

He grabbed my wrist, stopping me, and pulled me towards him, making me face him.

"What is going on? Why are you acting cold?" he asked, annoyed.

"I am tired of everything. I want to go back," I snapped as tears started running down my cheeks again.

His jaw clenched, and he tightened his grip around my wrist, making me wince. "You will not leave till you give birth. Then you can fuck off where you want," he spat out in frustration.

I looked at him, stunned. "No! I will not leave my baby." I shook my head, crying, and rested my hand on my belly protectively.

"Then you can stay here as his mother if you are ready to give up on your husband," he commented cockily.

"I can't." I sobbed.

How could I stay here when Jack threatened me? If it was before I found out about Angela and their daughter, I would tell him about the letter, but now I wasn't sure that he would protect us.

Rick would send me back instantly as soon as I gave birth, separating me from my son to protect himself and our son. If I could bear to stay away from my little one, I would accept it, but I couldn't leave my son. So I had only choice; I had to run away from this place.

"Your choice. If you prefer your husband over your own son, I can't stop you. I don't want a mother to my son who doesn't care about him," he commented bitterly and gave me a disgusting look.

I looked at him, offended. "What happened to you? You aren't the same man I knew," I mumbled in disappointment.

"Are you still asking?" He mocked and shook his head in disbelief.

I pursed my lips together, averting my gaze, and wiped the tears off my cheeks. He gripped my chin, making me face him.

"Your only responsibility is to give birth to my child, nothing more. So take care of yourself and the baby. If something happens to the baby, you are in deep shit."

I pulled back angrily. "I take care of my baby because I love him, not because you threaten me, seeing me like a breeding cow," I stated bitterly.

He smirked sarcastically. "Of course, you love him."

I gritted my teeth and slapped him across the face as I couldn't manage my anger anymore.

His jaw clenched, and he shot daggers at me. He grabbed my arm tightly, making me groan in pain.

"Rick! Let go of me! You are hurting me," I pleaded with teary eyes.

"Don't dare to slap me again. Otherwise, you will regret it," he warned me, giving me an intimidating look. "Don't think that you can do to me anything you want because you are pregnant with my baby," he added between gritted teeth and pushed my arm back roughly.

"I don't deserve this much hate, Rick. I did everything to protect the man I loved. I don't regret it; it was my only choice. However, if you told me your real identity, everything would be different," I commented sadly.

He smirked sarcastically, resting his hand in his pocket. "How kind and good you are! For a second, you could make me believe you. However, I know your true colors. You chose the power and wealth that bastard could gave you over some bartender who could not afford a luxurious life worth to a princess like you," he mocked, smirking. "And of course, it would be different if you knew who I am. Why should you have chosen your useless fiancé then when you knew you have already had more powerful boyfriend who could destroy your and your finance's families in a snap of his fingers?!" he added arrogantly.

I looked at him in disappointment as his words felt like a knife to my heart. I didn't think that he hated me this much.

I shook my head and gave him a sad smile. "It wouldn't change anything as much as I tell you I didn't have another choice. You won't change your mind; you are blind with anger. You can't see the truth."

He smirked sarcastically. "The truth?! You want to give up on your baby who needs you just to be with that bastard. What do you want me to think about you after it? You are a selfish woman. How blind I was when I fell in love with you. You are disgusting," he commented bitterly and gave me a loathing look.

"Believe what you want. I won't try to explain to you my reason anymore. But don't forget. I did everything to protect the man I love, sacrificing my own happiness," I said sadly and paused, heaving a loud sigh. "I chose your life over my happiness. So you don't have the right to accuse me of betrayal. One day you will understand it. I hope it wouldn't be late," I added firmly and left without letting him say anything while tears ran down my cheeks.

I rested my hand on my belly and went to the bathroom quickly as soon as I walked into my room. I felt nauseous.

After splashing some water onto my face, I leaned my hands on the vanity counter as my head started spinning.

Once I felt slightly better, I walked back to my bedroom in slow steps, resting my hand on my baby bump.

I lied down on the bed and pulled the cover over my body. I pursed my lips together as tears ran down my cheeks and stroked my belly tenderly.

After an hour later, my eyelids got heavier; I felt numb because of crying.

***

I groaned in pain and rested my hand on my belly as I woke up. I took deep breathes as I sat up on the bed while pressing my hand onto my bump slightly. The pain was getting stronger.

I pulled the cover away and got up barely as I called for help. My vision was blurry.

When I tried to lean my hand against the wall for support, my vision darkened.