A DANGEROUS VOW

EPISODE 7 — THREE YEARS

The message remained on Lorenzo's phone long after the call ended.

I hope you enjoy your three years.

He read it again.

Only six people knew the exact terms of the marriage contract.

And none of them should have spoken.

Lorenzo walked back into his study and locked the door.

"Alessandro."

His grandfather answered on the second ring.

"What is it?"

"Who knows about the contract?"

A pause.

"What happened?"

"Someone just mentioned the three-year term."

Alessandro's voice immediately became serious.

"Are you certain?"

"I'm looking at the message."

"Send it to me."

Lorenzo did.

A few seconds passed.

Then Alessandro called again.

"Don't tell Bianca."

"Why?"

"Because if someone is watching this closely, we don't know what they're after."

Lorenzo looked toward the hallway.

His expression hardened.

"Then I'll find out."

---

THE NEXT MORNING

Bianca stood before the mirror.

The wedding dress had arrived.

It wasn't extravagant.

It was elegant, simple and unmistakably expensive.

She touched the fabric.

Three years.

She kept repeating the words in her head.

She wasn't marrying for love.

Neither was Lorenzo.

She was doing this for her mother.

He was doing it for his grandfather and whatever reason he had chosen not to explain.

That was all.

A knock sounded.

Maria entered.

"Are you ready?"

Bianca looked at herself.

"No."

Maria smiled.

"You don't have to be."

Bianca turned toward her.

"Do I look nervous?"

"Only a little."

Bianca laughed.

"Good."

Maria helped her with the final details.

When Bianca finally stepped out of the room, she stopped halfway down the stairs.

Lorenzo was waiting below.

He was dressed completely in black.

His eyes moved over her for a moment.

Then he looked away.

"You look beautiful."

Bianca blinked.

It was the first genuine compliment he'd given her.

"Thank you."

He held out his hand.

She hesitated before taking it.

His fingers closed around hers.

"Ready?"

Bianca took a breath.

"Let's get this over with."

---

THE WEDDING

The ceremony was small.

Exactly as Alessandro wanted.

Only family, trusted allies and a few important members of the Romano organization were present.

There were no cameras.

No reporters.

No unnecessary attention.

But everyone who mattered was watching.

Bianca walked toward Lorenzo.

She could feel dozens of eyes following her.

Then she noticed someone standing near the back.

Ferraro.

She had never met him before.

But she recognized him from the photograph Lorenzo had once shown her during a security briefing.

Their eyes met.

Ferraro smiled.

Bianca immediately looked away.

Lorenzo noticed.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

His eyes moved toward Ferraro.

His expression became colder.

The ceremony continued.

When the priest asked Lorenzo if he accepted Bianca as his wife, he answered without hesitation.

"I do."

Then Bianca's turn came.

She looked at Lorenzo.

For a second, she remembered the night she had been brought here.

She remembered being terrified.

Now she was standing beside the most powerful man in the room.

"I do."

The rings were exchanged.

The priest smiled.

"You may kiss the bride."

The room became silent.

Lorenzo looked at Bianca.

She looked back.

Neither moved.

Then he leaned down and placed a brief kiss against her forehead.

A few people smiled.

Alessandro looked satisfied.

Bianca whispered,

"That was clever."

"What?"

"You avoided the kiss."

Lorenzo's mouth almost curved.

"You said no pretending."

She smiled.

"Fair enough."

---

AFTER THE CEREMONY

The guests gathered in the ballroom.

Bianca stood beside Lorenzo as people approached to congratulate them.

Everyone called her Donna Romano.

The title felt strange.

Almost unreal.

Then Valentina approached.

She wore a flawless black dress and a smile that never reached her eyes.

"Congratulations."

Bianca smiled politely.

"Thank you."

Valentina looked at Lorenzo.

"You finally did it."

Lorenzo said nothing.

Valentina leaned closer.

"I hope you're happy."

Lorenzo's expression remained cold.

"I am."

Valentina's eyes flickered toward Bianca.

"Then I suppose I should congratulate you both."

She walked away.

Bianca watched her go.

"She really doesn't like me."

"No."

"At least you're honest."

"I've always been honest with you."

Bianca looked at him.

"Have you?"

Lorenzo's eyes met hers.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Alessandro called them over.

---

FERRARO

Ferraro stood outside on the terrace, away from the crowd.

One of his men approached.

"Sir."

"What?"

"The marriage is official."

Ferraro looked back through the glass doors.

Lorenzo stood beside Bianca.

The entire room was treating her like she had always belonged there.

Ferraro's jaw tightened.

"How long is the marriage?"

His man hesitated.

"Three years."

Ferraro slowly turned.

"Who told you that?"

"We have someone listening to the servants."

Ferraro smiled.

"Three years."

He looked back at Lorenzo.

"Then Lorenzo isn't planning to stay married."

"Apparently not."

Ferraro's smile disappeared.

"Find out why."

---

LATER THAT NIGHT

The mansion had finally become quiet.

Bianca entered the bedroom she would now share with Lorenzo.

She stopped when she saw two separate suitcases.

One belonged to her.

The other was already beside the wardrobe.

Lorenzo entered behind her.

"Your things have been moved."

Bianca looked around.

"So this is really happening."

"Yes."

She looked at the enormous room.

"Which side is mine?"

"Choose."

She pointed toward the left.

"That one."

Lorenzo nodded.

He walked toward the opposite side.

Bianca opened her suitcase.

For several minutes, neither spoke.

Then she remembered something.

"Lorenzo."

"Hm?"

"There's something I want to make clear."

He turned.

"The contract doesn't mean I belong to you."

"I know."

"I'm not going to pretend to be some obedient mafia wife."

"I don't expect you to."

"And I won't interfere with your business."

"Good."

"But if someone threatens my mother..."

Her voice became firm.

"...I will protect her, no matter what your rules say."

Lorenzo looked at her.

"That's something I can respect."

Bianca wasn't expecting that answer.

She nodded.

"Good."

She returned to unpacking.

Lorenzo watched her for a moment before turning away.

His phone vibrated.

A message.

He opened it.

UNKNOWN NUMBER:

The contract may last three years.

Another message appeared.

But an heir can change everything.

Lorenzo's expression went completely still.

He looked across the room at Bianca.

She was standing by the window, unaware of the message on his phone.

Lorenzo locked the screen.

For the first time since signing the marriage contract, he wondered whether three years would really be enough to keep Bianca out of the Romano family's darkness.