By nightfall, the De Luca mansion had transformed completely.
Every corner of the estate glowed beneath hundreds of golden lights.
Flowers decorated the entrance, the grand staircase, and the ballroom.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the enormous hall while soft music floated through the room.
Tonight was Lucia De Luca’s birthday.
And everyone had dressed accordingly.
The De Luca family was already downstairs.
Serafina stood near the center of the ballroom, speaking with several guests.
Isabella was surrounded by her friends.
Alessandro was entertaining a group of businessmen who seemed more interested in his jokes than the expensive champagne in their hands.
Lucia sat comfortably in an elegant chair, accepting birthday wishes from guests.
Even Monisha’s family had been invited.
Monisha stood beside her parents, looking perfectly composed.
But she wasn’t happy.
Not at all.
Because everywhere she looked, people were greeting Purvi.
“Mrs.
De Luca, happy to meet you.”
“Your wife is beautiful, Vincenzo.”
“Congratulations to the De Lucas.”
She had dressed simply but elegantly.
A few minutes later, the sound of heels against the marble staircase made several conversations stop.
Everyone turned.
Purvi appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was wearing a stunning black slit gown that hugged her figure elegantly without being excessive.
Her wavy hair fell freely over her shoulders, framing her face perfectly.
Her heels clicked softly against the stairs as she descended.
For a moment, the ballroom became quiet.
Even Alessandro stopped talking.
Isabella’s mouth opened slightly.
“Wow.”
Lucia smiled proudly.
“There she is.”
Purvi reached the bottom of the staircase.
Several guests immediately approached her.
“You look beautiful.”
“Absolutely stunning.”
“Vincenzo is lucky.”
Purvi smiled politely.
“Thank you.”
Across the room, Monisha watched.
Her expression darkened.
She had expected Purvi to disappear into the background.
Instead, everyone seemed fascinated by her.
And what irritated Monisha most was the way people were addressing her.
Mrs.
De Luca.
Vincenzo’s wife.
The new member of the family.
Monisha’s fingers tightened around her glass.
Her mother noticed.
“Monisha.”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
Monisha forced a smile.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Her eyes returned to Purvi.
No.
She wasn’t fine.
The party continued.
Music filled the ballroom.
Guests moved from one conversation to another.
Some danced.
Others gathered around tables filled with food.
Lucia received gifts from friends and family.
Purvi stayed close to her for most of the evening.
Vincenzo, meanwhile, stood across the room surrounded by several executives.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
His expression was serious as he listened to one of the men discussing business.
“We should consider expanding into—”
“We will,” Vincenzo interrupted.
The executive nodded.
“Of course.”
Vincenzo’s gaze briefly wandered across the room.
He saw Purvi.
She was standing beside Lucia.
She looked beautiful.
His eyes remained on her for a second longer than necessary.
Then he forced himself to look away.
It was only because she was his wife.
Nothing more.
At least, that’s what he told himself.
Nearby, Isabella laughed with her friends.
Alessandro was talking to some relatives.
Serafina was speaking with Monisha’s mother.
Everything appeared normal.
Perfect, even.
Until Purvi noticed something.
At first, she thought it was a shadow.
Something moved near the edge of the ballroom.
She frowned.
She looked again.
Her smile disappeared.
A snake.
A strange-looking snake was slowly moving across the floor.
Purvi’s heart stopped.
She had never seen one like it before.
It was dark, almost blending with the marble floor, and it moved with frightening purpose.
Purvi stared.
It wasn’t moving randomly.
It was heading somewhere.
Her eyes followed its direction.
Her blood ran cold.
Grandmother.
Lucia was sitting directly in its path.
Purvi’s heart began pounding.
“No…”
She looked around.
Nobody else had noticed.
The music continued.
People were laughing.
Talking.
Dancing.
The snake continued moving.
Straight toward Lucia.
Purvi remembered something her grandmother had once told her about certain snakes.
Some snakes did not simply wander into buildings.
They could be deliberately brought or invoked.
And if one appeared in a place where it didn’t belong, especially during a crowded gathering, there was often a reason.
Purvi’s instincts screamed danger.
She didn’t think.
She didn’t hesitate.
“Grandma!”
Lucia looked up.
Purvi ran.
Everything seemed to happen at once.
The snake moved faster.
Purvi reached Lucia.
She grabbed her and pushed her backward.
Lucia stumbled into the chair.
And then—
The snake struck.
Its fangs sank into Purvi’s leg.
Purvi screamed.
“Ah!”
The ballroom erupted into chaos.
People screamed.
Someone dropped a glass.
Music stopped abruptly.
Vincenzo’s head snapped toward the sound.
His eyes found Purvi.
She was on the floor.
“PURVI!”
He moved before anyone else could react.
The executives around him stepped aside as he crossed the room with terrifying speed.
Lucia was horrified.
“Purvi!”
Purvi gripped her leg.
Her face had gone pale.
The snake recoiled and slithered away.
One of the security men immediately drew his weapon.
“Don’t!”
Vincenzo’s voice thundered across the room.
Everyone froze.
“Get that thing out of here.”
Security moved quickly.
Two men rushed toward the snake while another blocked the guests from getting closer.
Vincenzo reached Purvi.
He dropped to his knees beside her.
“Look at me.”
Purvi’s breathing was uneven.
“It bit me.”
“I know.”
His voice was frighteningly calm.
Too calm.
“Where?”
“My leg.”
Vincenzo looked at the bite.
Two small puncture marks were already visible.
His expression changed.
Fear.
For the briefest second, genuine fear flashed through his eyes.
He immediately buried it.
“Call the doctor.”
“Already calling, sir.”
“Call the best one.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lucia was shaking.
Purvi looked at her.
“Grandma…”
Lucia rushed toward her.
“My child…”
Purvi reached for her hand.
“Are you okay?”
Lucia stared at her in disbelief.
“You pushed me.”
Purvi nodded weakly.
“You were in its path.”
Lucia’s eyes filled with tears.
“You could have died.”
Purvi smiled faintly.
“But you didn’t.”
Vincenzo heard every word.
Something twisted violently inside his chest.
He looked at Purvi.
She had been willing to take the bite meant for his grandmother without even thinking about herself.
Why?
Why would she do that?
He slipped one arm beneath her knees and another around her back.
He lifted her effortlessly.
Purvi gasped.
“Vincenzo…”
“Don’t move.”
“I can walk.”
“No.”
His tone left no room for argument.
He carried her toward the nearest sofa.
Everyone watched.
Serafina looked stunned.
Alessandro’s face had lost all humor.
Isabella covered her mouth.
Even Monisha stood frozen.
Vincenzo carefully lowered Purvi onto the sofa.
His hands remained on her for a second.
Then he stepped back.
“Where is the doctor?”
A security guard approached.
“On the way, sir.”
“How long?”
“Five minutes.”
“Too long.”
Vincenzo’s voice was cold.
“Get a car ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
Purvi looked at him.
“I’m okay.”
His eyes snapped toward her.
“You were bitten by a snake.”
“I know.”
“And you’re telling me you’re okay?”
Purvi tried to smile.
“I’m still alive.”
“That’s not funny.”
She blinked.
She had never heard that tone from him before.
Not irritation.
Not anger.
Fear disguised as anger.
Vincenzo crouched in front of her.
“Stay awake.”
Purvi nodded.
He looked toward the bite again.
His jaw tightened.
Then his gaze moved across the ballroom.
Everyone was watching.
The party was forgotten.
The laughter was gone.
The music had stopped.
And Vincenzo’s eyes became colder than anyone had ever seen them.
“Lock the entire estate.”
The head of security immediately nodded.
“No one leaves.”
Guests exchanged nervous glances.
Vincenzo stood.
“Find out how that snake got inside.”
His voice dropped dangerously.
“And find out who put it here.”
Silence.
Everyone understood what those words meant.
This wasn’t an accident.
Someone had brought that snake into his home.
Someone had intended for it to bite someone.
And it had been heading directly toward Lucia.
But Purvi had taken her place.
Vincenzo looked at his wife.
For the first time since their contract marriage began, the thought of losing her didn’t feel like losing an obligation.
It felt like something much worse.
Something he couldn’t even name.
Purvi reached for his hand.
He looked down.
Her fingers were trembling.
Without thinking, he closed his hand around hers.
“I’m here.”
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Purvi looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
And for a brief moment, the entire ballroom disappeared.
Then the sound of approaching sirens broke the silence.
Vincenzo’s expression hardened again.
He lifted Purvi into his arms.
“We’re going to the hospital.”
And this time, nobody dared argue with him.