A DANGEROUS VOW

EPISODE 1_ THE DON'S WORLD

The Romano mansion stood on a hill overlooking the city, surrounded by tall iron gates, armed guards, and acres of perfectly maintained land.

Inside those walls lived a man whose name alone was enough to silence an entire room.

Lorenzo Romano.

The Don.

Lorenzo sat behind a large mahogany desk in his private study, dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. Several documents lay in front of him, but his attention wasn't on them.

A man stood nervously across the desk.

"Don Romano, the shipment will arrive tomorrow night."

Lorenzo slowly lifted his eyes.

"And the men guarding it?"

"They've already been replaced."

"Good."

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

The man swallowed.

"There is one more thing."

Lorenzo leaned back.

"Speak."

"The Ferraro clan has been asking questions about the shipment."

The room became silent.

Lorenzo's expression hardened.

"Ferraro."

The name alone carried years of history.

Dante Ferraro had been trying to challenge the Romano family for years. He had once sabotaged one of Lorenzo's missions, causing several Romano soldiers to lose their lives. Lorenzo had never forgotten it.

"Keep watching them," Lorenzo ordered. "If they make one wrong move, I want to know before they make the second."

"Yes, Don."

The man quickly left.

Lorenzo remained alone.

He reached for the glass of water on his desk, his expression unreadable.

Then his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

Grandfather.

Lorenzo sighed before answering.

"Yes?"

Alessandro's voice came immediately.

"When are you coming home?"

"I'm busy."

"You are always busy."

"I have work."

"You have excuses."

Lorenzo closed his eyes briefly.

"Grandfather—"

"I want to see you tonight."

"I'll come when I'm finished."

"No."

Lorenzo frowned.

"No?"

"You'll come now."

"I can't."

Alessandro became silent.

Then his voice changed.

"If you don't come home tonight, I may not be here tomorrow."

Lorenzo's eyes immediately opened.

"What are you talking about?"

"You heard me."

"Grandfather, don't start this again."

"I am old, Lorenzo. I have watched everyone around me build families while you continue living like you have nothing to lose."

Lorenzo's jaw tightened.

"I have responsibilities."

"And what happens after you die? Who inherits everything you've built?"

Lorenzo said nothing.

Alessandro continued.

"I want you married."

Lorenzo almost laughed.

"That's what this is about?"

"Yes."

"I'm not getting married."

"Then perhaps there is nothing left for me to wait for."

The call ended.

Lorenzo stared at the phone.

His grandfather knew exactly how to manipulate him.

And worse—

It worked.

---

Across the city, in a much smaller apartment, Bianca Moretti sat beside her mother's hospital bed.

Her fingers were wrapped around Sofia's hand.

"Mom, the doctor said the surgery can be done next week."

Sofia looked at her daughter with tired eyes.

"Bianca..."

"I have the money."

She smiled even though she knew she was lying.

Sofia squeezed her hand.

"Don't spend everything on me."

"You're my mother. How can I not?"

Sofia looked away.

"You need a life too."

Bianca forced a small laugh.

"My life is fine."

But it wasn't.

Bianca had graduated from university with excellent results in Business Administration. She had applied for countless jobs, but nothing had worked out.

So she worked as a waitress with her friends.

Every salary she earned went toward one thing.

Her mother's treatment.

She had finally managed to save enough for the surgery.

At least, she thought she had.

Her phone suddenly rang.

It was her father.

Bianca frowned before answering.

"Where are you?"

No answer.

" Dad?"

The call ended.

A strange feeling settled in her chest.

She quickly stood.

"I'll be back soon, Mom."

---

That evening, Bianca returned home.

The apartment was unusually quiet.

"Dad?"

No answer.

She walked into the kitchen.

Nothing.

Then she went toward the basement.

The moment she opened the door, her heart stopped.

The small metal box where she had hidden her savings was open.

Empty.

Bianca froze.

"No..."

She searched through the box again.

Nothing.

Her breathing became heavier.

"No, no, no..."

Her father's footsteps suddenly sounded behind her.

Bianca turned.

Marco stood there.

"You took it."

He avoided her eyes.

"Dad, you took my money?"

"I needed it."

"That was my mother's surgery money!"

"I was going to replace it."

"With what?"

Marco said nothing.

Bianca's eyes filled with tears.

"You gambled it, didn't you?"

He looked away.

"You gambled it."

"I'll win it back."

Bianca stared at him in disbelief.

"You promised me you were done."

"I can fix this."

"You always say that!"

Marco grabbed his jacket.

"Bianca, stay out of this."

She stepped in front of the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"You're not gambling again."

Marco pushed past her.

Bianca watched him disappear into the night.

She had no idea that her father was walking toward a decision that would change her life forever.

And somewhere across the city, Lorenzo Romano was preparing to meet his grandfather.

Two lives were moving toward each other.

Neither of them knew it yet.

But soon...

A debt would bring them together.

And a dangerous vow would bind them forever.