Rick's POV

As soon as I came back from the meeting with my father, Mario told me that he had some important information for me.

Once we walked into my study room, he extended me a yellow envelope.

"What is it?" I asked, giving him a questioning look as I took the envelope.

"Vanessa's health records." I raised my eyebrows, puzzled and took the paper out of the envelope. "She attempted suicide after hearing the news about your death," Mario informed me while I was reading the records.

I opened and closed my mouth without managing to say anything, staring at the papers in daze.

"Umm... Today Luke called me. He finally managed to seduce the maid who worked in Jack's mansion to get information about what was going on inside of the mansion. The maid told him that Jack and Vanessa haven't stayed in the same room since they got married. She added that..." Mario paused, rubbing the back of his neck uneasily.

"What did she say?" I asked firmly, clenching my fist. I was sure that he would tell me something bad.

"Jack hit Vanessa badly after finding out about that night. Worse than we knew. After that, he locked her in her room and kept acting bad towards her."

I gritted my teeth in frustration and crumpled the paper in my hand.

"And probably the only reason he didn't do anything bad to the baby or force her to get abortion because Vanessa's father told him that he would give Jack his new luxurious hotel and forty percent shares of his company after his grandchild's birth as a gift," he informed me.

What?!

Fucking bastard!

I smashed everything off my desk furiously and kicked the chair angrily. Thinking what Vanessa bare in that house made me mad. I left her alone when she needed me. Moreover, even thinking that he could force Nessa to get abortion boiled my blood.

"Calm down, Rick." Mario rested his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it slightly.

"I want him dead," I stated firmly.

"We will discuss it later when you calm down. Now you have to do something about Vanessa. She did everything for you and went through hell."

"No one will touch her again. I won't leave Nessa and our son out of my sight for a second anymore." I promised, clenching my fist. "But why does she want go back?" I asked, confused and rubbed my forehead, thinking.

"Probably, she is afraid of him."

"When she is with me, no one can touch her. Doesn't she know it?" I said, frowning.

"Maybe he threatened her again." He gave me a knowing look.

"Here?" I asked, unconvinced.

He sighed and pulled something out of his pocket. "The maid found this letter in front of her room this morning. You have to see it," he said and extended the letter towards me.

I furrowed my eyebrows and grabbed the letter. I clenched my fist angrily and cursed in frustration as I read it.

As soon as I finished reading the letter, I stormed out and rushed upstairs. I had to talk to Vanessa. How could she hide from me that that bastard threatened her again?! Didn't she trust me that I could protect her and our baby?

Once I reached her room, I opened the door without knocking. My eyes widened in shock as I saw Nessa lying on the floor, unconscious in her room. I threw the letter to the floor as I rushed towards her and bent down beside her.

"Nessa, open your eyes," I begged, placing her head on my lap and caressed her hair. Then I scooped her in my arms quickly and carried her downstairs in panic.

"What happened to her?" Mario asked worriedly as he saw us.

"When I went to see her, she was lying on the floor, unconscious," I informed him while carrying her towards my car.

As soon as I placed Vanessa on the back seat, Mario and I got in the car. I rested her head on my lap and held her hand, caressing her hair affectionately as Mario started the car.

Once we arrived at the hospital, the doctor and nurses took Vanessa to the emergency room.

I  started pacing back and forth in front of the room anxiously while waiting for them.

"It is my fault," I said between gritted teeth and kicked the chair angrily.

"Riccardo! Calm down. It isn't your fault," Mario stated firmly, grabbing my arm, and pulled me back.

"No, it is mine. If I didn't fight with her yesterday, she wouldn't feel bad," I explained in guilt. "If something happens to them, I won't forgive myself," I added as I collapsed onto the seat and held my head between my hands while my eyes welled up.

"Nothing will happen to them. Pull yourself together. You have to be strong for them," Mario commented warmly, resting his hand on my shoulder.

"Take care of the security of the hospital," I demanded firmly as I breathed deeply, trying to calm down, and leaned back against the seat.

"I have already taken care of it. Don't worry." I nodded and entwined my hands, leaning my elbows on my thighs.

***

"How are she and the baby?" I rushed towards the doctor when he finally walked out of the room.

"The risk passed, but she has to be careful. Especially next few weeks. No stress, no fast and risky movements. It will be better if she doesn't leave the bed as much as possible," the doctor informed me firmly.

I gulped nervously as my heart started beating faster in fear. "Is... the baby in danger?" I asked barely while it felt like there was a tight knot in my throat.

The doctor heaved a loud sigh. "I will be honest with you, Mr. Castelli. If this kind of situation happens again, we won't able to save the baby," he informed me and left after saying that I could see Vanessa in a few minutes.

I looked at him, stunned as my chest tightened with fear. I leaned my hand against the wall for support as I felt bad. It felt like I couldn't breathe anymore.

"Ricky, are you okay?" Mario asked, worried.

I closed my eyes without replying anything while the doctor's words replayed in my head.

"I have to see Nessa," I mumbled and approached the door in slow steps. My movements were mechanical.

"Nessa... How do you feel?" I asked, concerned as I approached her.

"Fine," she mumbled without looking at me.

"I am sorry. It is my fault." I gave her an apologetic look and took her hand in my hands.

She breathed deeply and pulled her hand away. "I want to go back. I am tired of everything. Please stop using me against Jack," Vanessa pleaded, giving me a begging look.

"Are you kidding me? How can you want to go back after what he did to you?" I asked in irritation and shook my head in disbelief. "I know about everything that bastard did to you. Do you think I will let you go to his den? Moreover, taking my son with you. You won't leave my sight for a second. I won't let anyone hurt you again, Nessa," I added and caressed her hair. "Your place is beside me, amore mio." I gave her a warm smile and rested my hand on her belly.

"I can't stay here," she mumbled as her eyes welled up.

"Are you afraid of Jack? I know about the letter. You don't have to worry about it. No one can touch you or our son when you are beside me," I assured her.

She looked at me with wide eyes. "How did you find it?"

I gave her an arrogant look. "I am Castelli, amore mio."

She rolled her eyes. "I won't leave my son," she stated firmly.

"No one is asking you to do it. And as I told you before you shouldn't have to be afraid of Jack's threats."

"I don't want to cause a problem between you and your girlfriend," Vanessa mumbled and pursed her lips together without looking at me.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Rosa? We aren't together. You know it very well."

"Not Rosa, but Angela. I know you even have a daughter with that woman," she stated dryly, looking me in the eyes.

"How do you know about Angela?" I asked, puzzled and rubbed my forehead, thinking. "And I don't have a daughter." I frowned.

She gave me an unconvinced look. "I heard what your father told you the day he saw us together."

I sighed. "Angela... she... is Domenico's fiancée, my brother's fiancée," I confessed, resting my hand in my pocket. Her eyes widened in shock. "Yes, you probably think I am an awful person," I commented sadly and shook my head. "It was a mistake; we both were depressed after my brother's death. When it mixed with alcohol..." I heaved a loud sigh and shook my head without finishing my sentence.

"Do you love her?" she asked uneasily and bit her lower lip.