A DANGEROUS VOW

EPISODE 22 — THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS DAUGHTER

Bianca couldn't move.

"Ferraro?"

The name barely left her lips.

Lorenzo nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"My men have been following your father's movements."

Bianca stared at him.

"But why would my father be talking to Ferraro?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

She shook her head.

"No."

Lorenzo watched her carefully.

"My father is a drunk. He's irresponsible. He's selfish. But—"

She stopped.

"But what?"

Bianca looked away.

"I don't know."

Lorenzo stepped closer.

"You need to tell me everything you remember about that night."

Bianca swallowed.

"The night he gambled me away?"

"Yes."

She closed her eyes.

"My father left the house in the afternoon. He had already taken the money I'd been saving for my mother's surgery."

Lorenzo's jaw tightened.

"He went to Ferraro's gambling house?"

"I didn't know that at the time."

She continued.

"When he came back, he was terrified. He kept saying he had made a mistake."

"What else?"

"He said someone had offered him another chance."

Lorenzo's expression changed.

"Another chance at what?"

"I don't know."

Bianca looked at him.

"Then the men came."

She remembered the night vividly.

"They told me my father had lost a bet."

Lorenzo remained silent.

"And that I was the collateral."

Her voice trembled.

"I thought they were joking."

"They weren't."

"No."

Bianca looked down.

"They took me because of him."

Lorenzo's eyes hardened.

"And now Ferraro is contacting him."

"Maybe he wants me because I'm your wife."

Lorenzo immediately shook his head.

"No."

"Then why?"

"I don't know yet."

He took the note from her hand.

"But we're going to find out."

---

THE SAFE HOUSE

Across the city, a man sat alone in a dark room.

Bianca's father.

His hands trembled as he stared at the phone in front of him.

It rang.

He hesitated before answering.

"Hello?"

Ferraro's voice came through.

"You've been difficult to reach."

"I told you, I don't want any more trouble."

Ferraro laughed.

"You lost that privilege when you used your daughter as collateral."

The man's face fell.

"I didn't know what they would do."

"You knew exactly what you were doing."

"I was desperate."

"You were drunk."

Silence.

Ferraro continued.

"Where is the money?"

"I don't have it."

"Then you have something else."

The man swallowed.

"What?"

"Information."

His eyes widened.

"I don't know anything."

Ferraro's voice became colder.

"You know your daughter."

---

THE ROMANO MANSION

Bianca sat in the library.

She hadn't touched her tea.

Lorenzo stood near the window, speaking quietly with his security chief.

"I want him brought here."

"Alive?"

Lorenzo turned.

"Obviously."

"Understood."

"And nobody touches him."

The security chief nodded.

He left.

Bianca looked at Lorenzo.

"You're bringing my father here?"

"Yes."

"I don't know if I want to see him."

"You don't have to."

She looked surprised.

"You won't force me?"

"No."

Lorenzo walked toward her.

"This is your choice."

Bianca looked down.

"I hate him."

"I know."

"But he's still my father."

"I know that too."

She looked at him.

"How do you always know what to say?"

"I don't."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"I just know when to stop talking."

Bianca laughed softly.

It was the first time she'd smiled since reading the note.

Lorenzo watched her.

Then his phone rang.

His expression immediately changed.

"Yes?"

A voice spoke.

"Don, we found Bianca's father."

Lorenzo straightened.

"Where?"

"An abandoned apartment near the old port."

"Bring him."

There was a pause.

"There's a problem."

"What?"

"He isn't alone."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"Who is with him?"

"We're not sure yet."

"Get me the footage."

---

THE OLD PORT

Two men entered the abandoned building.

One of them was Bianca's father.

The other wore a dark coat.

"You said Ferraro would protect me."

"He will."

"I want to leave."

The man grabbed him.

"You're not going anywhere."

Bianca's father struggled.

Then headlights appeared outside.

He froze.

"Who are they?"

The man looked through the window.

Black vehicles surrounded the building.

The Romano security team had arrived.

"Run."

"What?"

"RUN!"

But it was already too late.

The doors burst open.

Men rushed inside.

The stranger pulled out his gun.

Before he could fire, a security officer knocked it from his hand.

He was forced to the ground.

Bianca's father stood frozen.

Then he heard a familiar voice.

"You've caused my wife enough pain."

He looked up.

Lorenzo stood at the entrance.

His face was cold.

Bianca's father immediately lowered his eyes.

"Lorenzo..."

"Don't."

Lorenzo walked toward him.

"How long have you been working with Ferraro?"

"I haven't!"

Lorenzo grabbed the collar of his shirt.

"Don't lie to me."

"I swear!"

"Then tell me why Ferraro knows everything about Bianca."

The man began trembling.

"I didn't tell him!"

"Who did?"

"I don't know!"

Lorenzo stared at him.

Then the stranger on the floor laughed.

Everyone turned.

He looked at Lorenzo.

"You really think Ferraro needs this man?"

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

The stranger smiled.

"Your wife is the key."

Lorenzo stepped toward him.

"To what?"

The man said nothing.

"Answer me."

The stranger laughed again.

"You'll find out."

Lorenzo's security chief moved forward.

"Don."

Lorenzo raised his hand.

"Take him."

The man was dragged away.

Lorenzo turned back to Bianca's father.

"You."

The man looked terrified.

"You're coming with me."

---

BIANCA

The mansion doors opened.

Bianca immediately stood.

Lorenzo entered.

Her father was behind him.

She froze.

For several seconds, neither father nor daughter spoke.

Her father's eyes filled with shame.

"Bianca..."

She took a step backward.

"Don't."

He stopped.

"I'm sorry."

She laughed bitterly.

"Sorry?"

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"You gambled away my mother's surgery."

His face fell.

"You gambled me away."

"I was drunk."

"That's your excuse?"

"No."

He lowered his head.

"I was a terrible father."

Bianca's eyes filled with tears.

"You were."

Silence.

"But why Ferraro?"

Her father looked toward Lorenzo.

"I didn't work for him."

"Then what did he want?"

"I owed him."

"How much?"

He hesitated.

"Everything."

Bianca frowned.

"What does that mean?"

He finally looked at her.

"Ferraro didn't just take the money from the gambling."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"What else?"

Her father swallowed.

"He made me sign something."

"What?"

"A debt agreement."

Bianca stared at him.

"And?"

He looked at his daughter.

"The debt was transferred."

"To whom?"

He whispered,

"To Lorenzo Romano."

Silence filled the room.

Bianca turned slowly toward Lorenzo.

He looked just as shocked.

"What?"

Her father continued.

"I didn't understand it at first."

Lorenzo's voice was cold.

"Show me the document."

"I don't have it."

"Then where is it?"

Her father looked terrified.

"Ferraro has it."

Lorenzo's expression darkened.

And suddenly, Bianca understood.

Ferraro hadn't simply wanted her father.

He had been building something around their marriage.

Something that had started before Bianca ever walked into the Romano mansion.

Something that could threaten not only Lorenzo's position...

but their entire marriage.