Trapped in the Don’s Vow Chapter 01

Trapped in the Don’s Vow Chapter 01

On my wedding day, the son of the boss of the Moretti family was suddenly declared critically ill.

To uphold the family tradition, before he died, he demanded that his fiancée be buried alive with him.

The alliance decided his bride-to-be would be chosen from the Rossi family.

Our family had only two girls, and I was supposed to get married today.

The moment my half-sister, Isabella, heard the news, she collapsed on the spot and started sobbing like she’d lost her mind.

Right in front of all the guests, my fiancé, Vincent Gambini—the boss of the Gambini family—dropped to one knee, his voice cracking.

“Serena, I’ve never begged anyone in my life,” he said, “but today I’m begging you. Let Isabella be my bride.”

His eyes were bloodshot. “I swear I’ll get you out. You only have to stay in that coffin for seven days, and you’re brave enough to do it.”

“Isabella’s too fragile,” he added. “If she goes in there, she’ll die.”

My hand tightened around my bouquet. “And if I say no?”

He rose to his feet. “Serena, you know once I’ve made up my mind, nobody can change it.”

I closed my eyes, drew a deep breath, and opened them again. “Fine. I agree.”

The second the words left my mouth, Isabella jolted awake.

“No! Serena!” she cried, stumbling forward and dropping to her knees in front of me. Tears slid down her delicate, heart-shaped face. “You and Vincent have been engaged since you were kids. You two deserve happiness. You shouldn’t have to lose everything because of me.”

“I’ve always been useless,” she whispered, biting her lip as she looked up at Vincent. “If dying is my fate, then so be it. I’m not a coward.”

Vincent helped Isabella to her feet. “I’ve decided,” he said. “Only if you marry me can both of you be saved.”

Then he turned to me. “Serena, we grew up together. You know I love you, but things are different now. Are you really going to stand there and watch Isabella die?”

My father, Antonio Rossi, spoke in a voice cold as steel. “Vincent, are you sure you want to marry my youngest daughter?”

Vincent’s posture went rigid. He sank to one knee again, fist pressed to his chest. “I’m asking for your blessing, Mr. Rossi.”

My father looked at me instead, his gaze softening. “Serena, if you refuse, the wedding goes on, and you’ll marry into the Gambini family as promised.”

Isabella went paper-white. Vincent gripped her hand tightly.

They stared at me, waiting for my answer.

“Dad,” I said, letting the bouquet drop, “you can notify them. I, Serena Rossi, accept his proposal.”

The living room fell into dead silence.

Everyone knew Vincent and I had been engaged since we were ten, that we’d been inseparable for years.

And yet everything we had felt meaningless next to a single tear from Isabella.

My father nodded and sat down on the sofa.

The wedding coordinator rushed in, breathless. “Are we leaving for the church now?”