Breakfast had finally come to an end.
The plates were being cleared from the table while the family remained seated, enjoying the last few moments together.
Purvi reached for her glass of water and took a small sip.
She was still thinking about the morning.
About waking up beside Vincenzo.
About her hand resting on his chest.
About the embarrassing moment when Grandma had walked in.
And, most of all, about the strange smile that had appeared on her face when she had first opened her eyes and realized she was beside him.
She still couldn’t explain it.
Across from her, Alessandro was arguing with Isabella about something that had happened at the party the previous night.
“I am telling you, you were the one who pushed her toward Vincenzo,” Alessandro insisted.
“I did not push her,” Isabella replied.
“You absolutely did.”
“I merely spun her around.”
“Which resulted in her landing directly in Vincenzo’s arms.”
Isabella shrugged.
“Coincidence.”
Purvi lowered her gaze, trying not to laugh.
Vincenzo, meanwhile, looked completely uninterested in the conversation.
He was checking something on his phone.
Lucia suddenly placed her cup down.
Everyone became quiet.
There was something about the way Grandma looked around the table that immediately made Purvi suspicious.
Lucia smiled.
“This house feels different.”
Serafina looked at her.
“Different how?”
Lucia looked toward Purvi.
“Warmer.”
Purvi smiled politely.
Lucia continued.
“For years, this house has been too quiet.
Everyone comes and goes.
Nobody sits together for long.
Nobody laughs enough.”
Alessandro raised his eyebrows.
“Grandma, I make everyone laugh.”
Lucia smiled.
“You make everyone tired.”
Isabella burst out laughing.
Alessandro placed a hand over his chest.
“That hurt.”
Vincenzo shook his head.
Lucia’s eyes returned to Purvi.
“But now…”
She smiled warmly.
“Now there is someone who brings a little light into this house.”
Purvi’s cheeks warmed.
“Grandma…”
Lucia reached across the table and gently touched her hand.
“And I am grateful.”
Purvi smiled.
“Thank you.”
Vincenzo looked up.
He didn’t say anything.
But he listened.
Lucia leaned back in her chair.
Then, as casually as if she were discussing the weather, she said,
“I can’t wait for this house to be filled with the laughter of children.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Purvi froze.
Alessandro stopped drinking.
Isabella’s eyes widened.
Serafina looked at Lucia.
Vincenzo slowly lowered his phone.
Purvi stared at Grandma.
“Children?”
Lucia smiled.
“Yes, dear.”
Purvi’s cheeks immediately turned red.
“Grandma…”
“What?”
“I…”
Lucia laughed.
“What is wrong with children?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
Purvi looked down.
“I’m not.”
Isabella covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Alessandro leaned back in his chair.
“Oh, this is going to be entertaining.”
Vincenzo’s expression became colder.
“Grandmother.”
Lucia looked at him.
“What?”
“We’re not discussing this.”
Lucia’s smile didn’t disappear.
“Why not?”
“Because there is nothing to discuss.”
Lucia raised an eyebrow.
“You are married.”
“It’s a contract.”
Purvi’s smile faded slightly.
The words were familiar.
But somehow, hearing them spoken in front of everyone felt different.
Lucia noticed.
Vincenzo noticed too.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
Something unreadable passed through his.
Then he looked away.
Lucia sighed.
“A contract can become a marriage.”
Vincenzo’s jaw tightened.
“Not this one.”
Purvi remained quiet.
Isabella glanced at her.
Alessandro’s teasing expression disappeared for a moment.
Lucia wasn’t offended.
Instead, she looked at her grandson with the patience of someone who had known him all his life.
“You can keep saying that.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“But life has a funny way of changing plans.”
“I don’t intend to change mine.”
Lucia smiled.
“We’ll see.”
Vincenzo stood.
“I’m done.”
Alessandro laughed.
“Running away already?”
Vincenzo looked at him.
“I’m going to work.”
“Of course.”
Vincenzo turned to leave.
Then Lucia called,
“Vincenzo.”
He stopped.
“What?”
Lucia smiled innocently.
“Don’t work too hard.”
He narrowed his eyes.
Then she added,
“I’ll need you home early.”
“Why?”
Lucia’s smile widened.
“We need to discuss baby names.”
Vincenzo closed his eyes.
Alessandro burst into laughter.
Isabella nearly dropped her cup.
Even Purvi couldn’t stop herself.
A small laugh escaped her.
Vincenzo looked at all of them.
“You are all impossible.”
Lucia laughed.
“Have a good day.”
He shook his head and walked away.
Purvi watched him disappear through the doorway.
Then she looked at Grandma.
“You really enjoy embarrassing him.”
Lucia smiled.
“Very much.”
Purvi laughed softly.
Isabella leaned closer.
“Don’t worry.
She does this to everyone.”
Alessandro nodded.
“But Vincenzo is her favorite target.”
Lucia corrected him.
“Because he is the most difficult.”
Purvi smiled.
She couldn’t help imagining it.
The enormous De Luca mansion filled with children’s laughter.
Tiny footsteps running through the halls.
Someone calling for Grandma.
Someone arguing with Alessandro.
Isabella laughing.
And perhaps…
She stopped herself.
Why had her mind suddenly imagined Vincenzo carrying a little child?
Purvi quickly shook the thought away.
No.
Absolutely not.
This was a contract marriage.
She shouldn’t even be thinking about children.
She looked down at her wedding chain.
Her fingers lightly touched it.
The chain that had gotten caught in Vincenzo’s shirt that morning.
Her cheeks warmed again.
Isabella noticed.
“Purvi?”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“Why are you smiling?”
Purvi immediately stopped smiling.
“I’m not.”
Alessandro laughed.
“She is.”
“I wasn’t.”
Lucia smiled knowingly.
“Let her smile.”
Purvi looked at her.
Lucia reached over and squeezed her hand.
“One day, dear, this house will be filled with laughter.”
Purvi smiled softly.
“Maybe.”
Lucia’s eyes sparkled.
“Not maybe.”
Purvi laughed.
“Okay, Grandma.”
Across the hall, however, Vincenzo had stopped walking.
He could still hear their laughter.
He stood there for a moment.
His grandmother’s words echoed in his mind.
Children.
He shook his head.
Absolutely not.
He had never imagined himself surrounded by children.
His life had always been too dangerous, too complicated, too dark.
And now Purvi had somehow entered that world carrying nothing but warmth and a smile.
He should have hated the disruption.
Instead…
He found himself listening to her laughter.
Vincenzo looked back toward the dining room.
He could see Purvi through the open doorway.
She was laughing at something Alessandro had said.
Her eyes were bright.
Her face was glowing.
For one brief second, he imagined what the mansion would look like years from now if that laughter never disappeared.
He immediately pushed the thought away.
“No.”
He turned around.
This was a contract.
Nothing more.
He repeated the words silently as he walked toward his office.
But for the first time…
They didn’t sound quite as convincing as they used to.