It has been three weeks since the last time that Ashley saw Dante. But yet, even though he was not there, he still made his presence known. Every single day, she would receive a bouquet of roses that the nurse would bring in at twelve sharp. The colors varied because Ashley believed all the colors were beautiful.

As nice as the gesture was to her, she still couldn't forget what he had done to her. Many times, he had been the reason why she had to go to the hospital. And he was the reason why she had lost Arabella.

She knew how much he wanted things to go back to the way it was but he was living an illusion. After everything that had happened, nothing could go back to the way it was. How could it when all of their trust and belief in each other flew away in just a snap of a finger. It would be nearly impossible to be able to build it all back it.

She smiled down at her stomach and caressed it. She did a lot of thinking though. Dante and her could never go back to the way it was but he was still Isabella's father. She sighed. She couldn't keep Dante away from Isabella. It would be cruel of her to take away her daughter's father.

Ashley knew she would be able to tolerate Dante and maybe they could even become friends but never would they get back to each other. Their relationship was far too damaged to be fixed. Getting back into it would be toxic not only for her but also for Isabella.

She didn't have time to think about herself anymore. She had a baby due in a month's time. Every single decision, regardless of how little it may seem, will not benefit her but her daughter. Her daughter is the only thing that matters to her in the world right now.

Ashley sighed. Her thoughts drifted towards Alessio. Also something else that has changed. She hadn't seen him in over three weeks. Lately, the doctor that checked up on her had been Dr. Morgan, a young doctor with a heart of gold.

As nice as Dr. Morgan was, Ashley couldn't help but miss Alessio. She knew she couldn't have him and she accepted it. But still, she couldn't help but feel a yearning towards him. She was the moth and he was her flame. A flame that seemed to only burn brighter and brighter with each passing day.

She wondered what had happened to him. Was he okay? Why did he leave without saying as much as good-bye to her? Did he have someone waiting for him on the side? Was everything he told her been just a lie?

No.

He had no obligation towards her. He wasn't her boyfriend and he definitely wasn't her husband. She had no right to question him.

"Good morning, beautiful."

Ashley looked up. Her eyes widened and she gulped. "Rafael. What a surprise to see you here. How are you?" she asked politely.

Rafael grinned and her and sat down on the chair. He grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I've been fine. How are you?"

Ashley hastily snatched her hand away from him, not missing the determined glint that passed through his eyes. She smiled at him, scooting a little further back. "I've been fine."

He raised his eyebrows up at her. He then stared down at her stomach before looking back up at her. Although he tried to mask it, Ashley could see the disgust that brewed in his eyes. "How is your little bambina?"

"Fine." Her fingers hovered over the red button, ready to press it.

Rafael had never done anything to harm her but something inside told her to stay away from him. Rafael was attractive no doubt about that but there was something sinister hiding in his eyes. Something that he tried to hide but Ashley saw right through it every single time.

She knew he was infatuated with her. She had known ever since they were little kids. Even looking at him now, she didn't miss the hopeful gleam in his eyes that only shined from time to time.

"I don't see any use for that button at all." Rafael hummed and stood up. He walked towards the door and closed it. Turning back, he smirked at her. "Why don't we have a little talk? There's so much for us to discuss."

Ashley's heart jumped out of her chest seeing the door closed. She pressed the button, hoping that he didn't notice it. "About what?"

He walked back to her and caressed her cheek. He grabbed her shoulders and buried his head into her neck. He breathed her in.

Goosebumps rose all over Ashley's skin. She breathed out slowly and unevenly. "Rafael?" she whispered, pushing him away.

He held her shoulders tighter. "You don't know how much I want you right now." he whispered into her ear, "how much I have always wanted you."

He moved her hand away from the button and chuckled. "That isn't going to help you. They won't know a thing. All the cameras are shut down and so are the alarms."

Ashley shivered and tried to push him away. "Rafael please."

He laughed again and placed a kiss on her neck. His tongue darted out and licked the spot beneath her ear. "I can taste you."

Ashley closed her eyes. A tear dripped down her face. She clenched her fist. "Rafael, please I'm begging you. Let me go."

He pulled away from her and smiled, His hand touched her cheek and pushed her down on the bed. His eyes darkened as he roamed all over her body. He pulled out a cuff.

Ashley pushed him off and stood up but he only pushed her back on the bed again. She tried to fight back but couldn't as he straddled her and cuffed her arms to the bed. He grabbed another one and cuffed her legs. She shook her head and begged him. "Why are you doing this?"

"I watched you. You married another man and now you're pregnant." he glared down at her and climbed on top again. "How could you?" he asked, grinding his hips against her core.

"No please, don't." Ashley begged him, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. She opened her mouth and screamed when she realized that he wasn't going to go anywhere.

Rafael clasped his hand over her mouth and pushed down on it. He glared at her. "Your screams won't do anything, don't even try."

His other hand moved beneath her gown, touching her stomach. He grinned at her and grinded his hips on her lower region. "Can you feel how much I want you?" he whispered. "I want to hear you scream my name. Whether it's in pleasure or pain. I just want to sweet sound of my name coming out of your mouth."

Ashley wiggled beneath him, her tears coming down faster. She begged for someone to come and save her.

"You know what I love most about private rooms? They're practically sound-proof." He groaned. His hands traced up her body.

She snapped her eyes shut and begged for him to remove his hands away from her. She didn't want to feel his touch. It made her feel dirty.

She gasped when pain coursed through her breasts. Her eyes snapped over and met Rafael's eyes. Eyes that were dark with evil.

He grinned at her and removed his hand away from her mouth. "I want to taste you." he whispered before laying kisses on her neck. He removed her gown.

Ashley screamed again.

He chuckled and his head disappeared from view.

She felt him. Felt his breath blowing over her. She tried to close her legs but the cuffs prevented her from doing anything. "Alessio!" she shouted, tears dripping down her face.

"He won't save you." Rafael whispered.

Her body twitched and she felt her insides clenching. She closed her eyes and prayed. Prayed for Alessio to come and save her. She prayed from this to be over. She prayed to forget Rafael's touch.

"Can you blame me for wanting you? Someone so beautiful and innocent? You're perfect to me." he whispered.

"Don't." she whispered. "Please, Rafael. Don't do this to me."

He groaned. "Your begging only make me want this more and more."

"Why?" Ashley felt hopeless laying on the bed, bare. She couldn't do anything. Not without inflicting more harm onto her baby.

Rafael moved away from her, standing across the room. He looked away with his fist clenched. "You never noticed me. You sought love when you could have been with me. We could have been in love with each other." he glared at her stomach. "That child could have been mine."

Ashley shook her head. "Please Rafael, let me go."

His throat rumbled. "You're mine, Ashley. No matter what happens, you're mine."

He looked at her longingly and turned around.

"Rafael no. Unlock me." she cried out as he walked out of the door. She wiggled again the cuffs, her eyes blurred with tears. "Rafael!"

A team of doctors and nurses must have heard her cries as they rushed into the room. They took once glance at her and looked at each other.

Ashley cried harder and wiggled around the chains harder. "Please get me out of these." she begged them.

"Find me Dr. Morcelli, now!" Dr. Morgan shouted.

She came over to Ashley's side and touched her gently. "We'll get you out of these, Ashley."

Ashley sobbed harder and she grabbed Dr. Morgan's arm. She held onto it tightly, thinking that if she was to let go, more harm would come her way.

Why did all bad things happen to her? Why?

.

.

.

Alessio picked up his phone. "Morcelli." he answered gruffly, shifting Sophie to his other arm while holding the phone in the other.

"Good afternoon Dr. Morcelli. My name is Thomas. I need your help on something quite important." A voice echoed through the phone.

Alessio sat down on his office chair and positioned Sophie's head on his shoulders. "How can I help you?"

"You were once part of the Special Forces, no?"

"That had been eight years ago." Alessio answered him coldly, already knowing where it was heading.

"Yes but you see, we need someone with skills much like yours." Thomas replied, not seeming the least bothered.

"I don't do anything with the Special Forces anymore."

"You don't need to. We just need your skills."

Alessio could hear the annoyance starting to seep through the man. He rolled his eyes. "Whatever it is, it will be a no."

"Not even when it comes to Ashley Valldarri?" His voice came out smug.

Alessio stood up from his seat, forgetting completely about Sophie. Sophie opened her eyes, and Alessio cursed himself. "Daddy?"

He held a finger to his lips, smiling and kissing her forehead when she nodded her head. She leaned her head against his shoulder, wrapping her arm around his neck. Alessio sighed. "What does Ashley have to do with this?"

"Protect her and keep an eye out on someone."

"Who?" Alessio's blood boiled at the thought of someone coming Ashley. He would kill anyone who dares to hurt her ever again.

"Rafael De Luca."

Alessio's chest rumbled. "Done." he snapped before shutting off his phone. He shoved it into his pocket and looked down at his sleeping baby girl. He pushed her hair back and kissed the top of her head. He walked of his office and towards her room.

Placing her down on the bed, he gently caressed her cheek. Her light snores filled up the room. Like mother like daughter the saying goes. He chuckled at her crinkling nose. She's perfect. Everything about her reminded him of his sister. The sister that he couldn't protect. The thought of it made his blood boil.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He groaned and pulled his phone out, ignoring the pink coats on his fingernails. He would just have to clean them off later.

He opened his phone and when his eyes met the message on the screen, he felt his eyes burning with fury. Walking out of Sophie's room, he threw the phone across the hall. He ran down the stairs and grabbed his gun from his desk drawer.

"Silvia, watch Sophie." he shouted before running out into his car.

Someone had hurt Ashley and he wasn't there to stop it.

.

.

.