The emergency room doors remained closed.
Inside, the doctors continued fighting for Purvi’s life.
Machines beeped rapidly around her.
One doctor monitored her heart rate while another carefully administered the antivenom.
“Blood pressure?”
“Still low, but rising.”
“Respiration?”
“Improving.”
“Good.
Keep monitoring her.”
The doctor looked at Purvi’s pale face.
“Come on, Mrs.
De Luca.”
He adjusted the oxygen.
“Stay with us.”
For nearly another hour, the medical team worked without stopping.
Outside, the De Luca family waited.
Nobody dared complain about the uncomfortable chairs.
Nobody cared about the time.
Nobody even touched the food one of the security men had brought.
Their entire world had narrowed down to one pair of emergency doors.
Vincenzo stood closest to them.
His arms were folded across his chest, but his eyes remained fixed ahead.
He hadn’t moved.
Not once.
Lucia sat quietly beside Serafina, holding a rosary between her fingers.
Isabella rested her head against Alessandro’s shoulder.
Every few minutes, Alessandro looked toward his brother.
Vincenzo never looked back.
Then suddenly—
The emergency doors opened.
Everyone stood.
The doctor stepped out.
Vincenzo reached him first.
“How is she?”
The doctor removed his surgical mask.
“We’ve managed to stabilize her.”
Lucia immediately stood.
“She’s alive?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“And the poison?”
“We administered the antivenom in time.
Her body responded better than we expected.”
Vincenzo stared at him.
“Is she out of danger?”
The doctor paused.
“At this moment, yes.”
Everyone released the breath they had been holding.
Lucia covered her face.
“Thank God.”
Isabella began crying again, but this time they were tears of relief.
Serafina closed her eyes.
Alessandro exhaled heavily.
Vincenzo remained silent.
“She’s truly out of danger?” he asked again.
The doctor nodded.
“She’s still weak and will need close observation, but the immediate danger has passed.”
Vincenzo’s shoulders finally relaxed.
Only slightly.
“When can I see her?”
“She’s still unconscious.”
“I’ll wait.”
The doctor nodded.
“She may wake soon.”
Vincenzo looked toward the doors.
“Then I’ll be here.”
His phone suddenly rang.
Vincenzo pulled it from his pocket.
His PA’s name appeared on the screen.
He answered immediately.
“Talk.”
“Sir, we’ve finished investigating the snake.”
Vincenzo’s expression hardened.
“And?”
There was a brief silence.
“It wasn’t a normal accident.”
Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed.
“I already knew that.”
“No, sir.
I mean something else.”
“Go on.”
“Our men identified the species.”
Vincenzo listened.
“It’s an extremely dangerous venomous snake.
But that’s not the important part.”
“What is?”
“It wasn’t found wandering into the mansion.”
Vincenzo’s jaw tightened.
“Explain.”
“The snake was brought there.”
Silence.
Vincenzo looked toward the emergency room doors.
“How certain are you?”
“Completely certain.”
His PA continued.
“Security cameras show someone entering the estate earlier.
We haven’t identified the person yet, but they were carrying something concealed.”
Vincenzo’s eyes became colder.
“And the snake?”
“It was released inside the mansion shortly before the party.”
Alessandro noticed the change in his brother’s expression.
“What is it?” he asked quietly.
Vincenzo held up a finger.
His PA continued.
“Sir, there’s more.”
“Speak.”
“The snake wasn’t released randomly.”
Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“Our people checked its movement before Purvi was bitten.”
He listened carefully.
“It appears it was directed toward a specific area.”
“Lucia.”
“Yes.”
Vincenzo’s face became expressionless.
Someone had deliberately targeted his grandmother.
And Purvi had taken the bite meant for her.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
“Find whoever did it.”
“We’re already working on it.”
“I don’t want guesses.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I want a name.”
“You’ll have it.”
Vincenzo ended the call.
Alessandro immediately stepped closer.
“Someone put that snake in the mansion?”
Vincenzo nodded.
“To kill Grandma.”
Lucia heard him.
Her face turned pale.
“But Purvi…”
“Saved you.”
Lucia looked toward the emergency room.
Her eyes filled again.
Vincenzo’s voice became dangerously low.
“Whoever did this made one mistake.”
Alessandro looked at him.
“They attacked my family.”
His eyes darkened.
“And now they’re going to learn what that means.”
Outside the hospital, a black tinted SUV slowly approached.
The vehicle moved quietly along the road before passing the hospital entrance.
Inside sat a woman.
Her face was partially hidden beneath large sunglasses.
Her hands were clenched tightly around her phone.
She stared through the tinted window toward the hospital.
Her expression was furious.
She had clearly expected something.
Something that hadn’t happened.
Her eyes remained fixed on the hospital for several seconds.
Then the SUV continued driving.
The woman turned her head slightly.
“She’s still alive?”
The driver said nothing.
Her jaw tightened.
“How?”
Still silence.
The vehicle disappeared into traffic.
But whoever the woman was…
She wasn’t relieved.
She was angry.
Very angry.
Back inside the hospital, Vincenzo was still standing beside the emergency room doors when a nurse suddenly appeared.
“Mr.
De Luca?”
He immediately turned.
“Yes?”
“Your wife is conscious.”
For a second, he didn’t move.
Then his expression changed.
“She’s awake?”
“Yes.”
Lucia immediately stood.
“Can I see her?”
The nurse smiled gently.
“One person at a time for now.”
Vincenzo was already walking toward the room.
Lucia looked at him.
“Go.”
He glanced at her.
“She’ll want to see you.”
Vincenzo nodded.
Then he entered.
The room was dim.
The only sounds were the quiet beeping of machines.
Purvi lay beneath the white hospital sheets.
Her face was still pale.
An IV was attached to her hand.
Oxygen rested beneath her nose.
Her eyes were open.
But barely.
Vincenzo stopped at the doorway.
Seeing her awake did something strange to his chest.
He had spent hours imagining the worst.
Now she was here.
Alive.
He walked toward the bed.
“Purvi.”
Her eyes moved toward him.
For a moment, she simply stared.
Then her lips moved.
“Vincenzo…”
“I’m here.”
He pulled a chair beside the bed and sat down.
“You scared everyone.”
Purvi blinked slowly.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.”
His voice was softer than usual.
“You were poisoned.”
She looked down at herself.
Then suddenly her expression changed.
“Grandma.”
Vincenzo went still.
“What?”
“Grandma…”
She tried to sit up.
Vincenzo immediately placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t move.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s fine.”
Purvi stared at him.
“She’s okay?”
“Yes.”
Her entire face relaxed.
A tiny smile appeared.
“Thank God.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“You almost died.”
Purvi looked at him.
“I know.”
“And the first thing you ask about is Grandma?”
She looked genuinely confused.
“She was the one the snake was going to bite.”
Vincenzo shook his head slightly.
“You were bitten instead.”
“But she’s safe.”
“Purvi.”
His voice became firmer.
“You were unconscious.”
She looked down at her hand.
“How long?”
“Hours.”
Her eyes widened.
“Hours?”
“Yes.”
She looked frightened for a moment.
Then she looked toward him.
“Did Grandma cry?”
Vincenzo almost laughed despite himself.
“Yes.”
Purvi’s eyes softened.
“She’s okay?”
“She’s fine.”
“Then I’m fine.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“You really don’t care that you’re the one lying in a hospital bed?”
Purvi smiled weakly.
“I care.”
“Doesn’t look like it.”
She looked at him for a moment.
“I would rather be here than have Grandma lying here.”
Vincenzo didn’t know what to say.
She wasn’t thinking about herself.
Even after coming so close to death, she was still worried about someone else.
He looked away.
Something inside him tightened.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Purvi’s lips curved slightly.
“You say that a lot.”
“And you keep proving me right.”
She smiled.
Then her eyes slowly closed.
Vincenzo immediately leaned forward.
“Purvi?”
“I’m just tired.”
He relaxed.
“Sleep.”
She opened her eyes one last time.
“Vincenzo?”
“What?”
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
His gaze remained on her.
“Of course.”
She smiled faintly.
Then her eyes closed again.
Vincenzo sat there silently.
Watching her breathe.
Alive.
Safe.
For now.
But somewhere outside that hospital, someone was still angry that Purvi had survived.
And Vincenzo had a feeling this was only the beginning.