Trapped in the Don’s Vow (Serena) novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Serena, we had an agreement.” Vincent said, his voice dropping. So even if I have to challenge the Don’s authority. I

don’t care.”

I arched a brow. “An agreement?”

“You mean the one where I pretend to be Isabella, marry Lorenzo, get locked in a coffin, hold my breath in an airtight tomb for seven days, wait for you to come ‘save’ me, and then end up as your mistress? That agreement?”

The hall went dead silent.

Vincent’s face drained of color.

“Mr. Gambini,” Lorenzo said, breaking the silence, “I didn’t realize your ambition was so… creative.”

“You honestly expected someone to survive a week with no air?”

“No.” Vincent said, eyes wild. He forgot every scrap of etiquette as he lunged for my arm. “Serena, it’s not like that. I never

wanted you to die.”

I stepped back lightly, avoiding his touch. “Isn’t it?”

“Vincent, did you really believe that childish breath-holding trick you taught me would keep me alive for seven days in a

sealed coffin?”

Memories surged back like a tide, vivid and painful.

When we were kids, I once fell into the lake at the Rossi estate, and Vincent dragged me out

After that, he taught me how to swim, and how to control my breathing.

“Serena,” he told me, “if you want to stay by my side, you can’t be my dead weight.”

1

I’m not some playboy,” he said. “If a minor accident can kill you, then I’d have to protect you like a fragile flower, and a

flower can’t be my wife”

From that day on. I gave up the polished, proper life a mob princess was supposed to chase and threw myself into his

world

I became his adviser, the unseen strategist behind his twelve headline-grabbing business wars and in five years his reputation had even eclipsed his father’s

But to Vincent, a woman’s ambition was a defect.

The stronger I became, the easter it was for him to justify leaving me behind

Vincent stammered. 1 I thought after all those years of training your control would be enigh

Lorenzo let out a scornful hum “Enough?”

Chapter 6

Gambini, even the world’s best freedivers can’t hold their breath for half a day,” he said coldly. “Do you think my wife is

some kind of supernatural creature?”

Vincent’s face flushed a furious red.

In the thick, awkward silence, Isabella suddenly stepped forward and started screaming herself hoarse.

“Serena, if you don’t want to be Lorenzo’s wife, I’ll give you my place,” she sobbed. “Please, stop being mad at Vincent.”

Tears streaming, she turned to Lorenzo. “Lorenzo, take me instead. Please, let Serena go back to Vincent.”