Breakfast With the De Lucas
The dining room of the De Luca mansion was almost as intimidating as Vincenzo himself.
A long polished table stretched beneath an enormous chandelier, with enough seats to accommodate the entire family and several guests.
Purvi entered carrying a serving dish.
She stopped when she saw that everyone had gathered.
Alessandro De Luca was already seated, casually scrolling through his phone.
At twenty-eight, he had some of Vincenzo’s sharp features but none of his brother’s intimidating silence.
Isabella sat beside him, elegant and observant, watching everything happening around her with obvious curiosity.
At the head of the table sat Lucia De Luca, Vincenzo’s seventy-eight-year-old grandmother.
Beside her was Serafina De Luca, Vincenzo’s mother.
Purvi’s eyes moved across the table.
So this was the family she had married into.
“Good morning,” she said brightly.
Isabella immediately smiled.
“Good morning, Purvi.”
Alessandro looked up from his phone.
“Morning, sister-in-law.”
Purvi smiled.
“Good morning, Alessandro.”
Lucia studied her for several seconds.
Then her lips curved.
“Come here, child.”
Purvi walked toward her.
Lucia took her hand.
“Let me look at you properly.”
Purvi laughed softly.
“Grandmother, you’ve already seen me.”
“I saw you yesterday surrounded by hundreds of people.
Today I can actually see you.”
She examined Purvi’s face before nodding approvingly.
“Beautiful.”
Purvi’s cheeks warmed.
“Thank you.”
Serafina smiled politely.
“You woke up early.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“New house?”
Purvi nodded.
“Everything feels unfamiliar.”
Lucia squeezed her hand.
“You’ll get used to it.”
A voice came from behind them.
“She doesn’t need to.”
Everyone turned.
Vincenzo walked into the room.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit despite the fact that it was barely morning.
He glanced at Purvi.
“You should have slept.”
Purvi smiled.
“I did.”
“Then why were you in the kitchen?”
“Because I woke up.”
Vincenzo pulled out his chair.
“And?”
“And I was hungry.”
Alessandro snorted.
Isabella covered a smile.
Vincenzo shot them both a warning look.
Silence immediately returned.
Purvi sat beside Isabella.
A few seconds later, the doors opened again.
Monisha Kapoor walked inside.
Purvi looked up.
The woman was stunning.
Elegant.
Confident.
And completely comfortable in the De Luca mansion.
She walked directly toward Vincenzo.
“You’re late.”
Vincenzo didn’t even look at her.
“I wasn’t aware I had to report my schedule to you.”
Monisha smiled.
“Still charming, I see.”
Purvi watched them carefully.
There was something familiar in the way Monisha spoke to him.
Something almost intimate.
Isabella noticed Purvi’s expression.
She leaned closer.
“Don’t worry.”
Purvi looked at her.
“About what?”
“Monisha.”
Purvi smiled.
“I wasn’t worried.”
Isabella raised an eyebrow.
“Of course.”
Across the table, Monisha finally noticed Purvi.
Her eyes traveled over the younger woman’s black-and-gold sari before she smiled.
“So you’re Purvi.”
Purvi nodded.
“Yes.”
“I’m Monisha.”
“I know.”
Monisha’s smile remained.
“You’ve heard about me?”
“Vincenzo mentioned you.”
Vincenzo looked at Purvi.
“I did?”
Purvi nodded.
“Yesterday.”
Monisha laughed softly.
“Well, I suppose he had to.”
She took the seat opposite Purvi.
Lucia watched the exchange with interest.
Breakfast was served.
Everyone began eating.
Purvi noticed that Vincenzo barely touched his food.
She frowned.
“You’re not eating?”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“I’m eating.”
“You’ve taken two bites.”
His expression hardened.
“I’m capable of feeding myself.”
Purvi blinked.
“I didn’t say you weren’t.”
“Then don’t monitor my plate.”
Alessandro nearly choked on his coffee.
Isabella kicked him beneath the table.
Purvi simply smiled.
“Okay.”
Vincenzo returned to his food.
A minute later, Purvi noticed him reaching for a dish that was too far away.
Without thinking, she picked it up and placed it beside him.
“There.”
Vincenzo looked at the dish.
Then at her.
“I could have reached it.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you move it?”
“Because I was closer.”
He stared at her.
Purvi continued eating as though nothing had happened.
Lucia’s lips twitched.
Serafina noticed too.
Alessandro leaned back in his chair, clearly entertained.
“This is interesting.”
Vincenzo glared at him.
“What?”
Alessandro grinned.
“Nothing.”
Monisha watched Vincenzo carefully.
She had known him since childhood.
She knew his moods.
His habits.
His temper.
She had seen him dismiss women with a single look.
But she had never seen him spend so much time arguing with one.
And somehow, the realization irritated her.
“So,” Monisha said, breaking the silence, “how does it feel being married to Vincenzo?”
Purvi looked at her.
She considered the question.
Then smiled.
“Exhausting.”
Alessandro burst out laughing.
Isabella covered her mouth.
Even Serafina looked almost amused.
Vincenzo slowly placed his fork down.
“Purvi.”
“What?”
“You’ve been my wife for less than twenty-four hours.”
“I know.”
“And you’re already complaining?”
Purvi tilted her head.
“I’m not complaining.”
“Then what was that?”
“An observation.”
Alessandro laughed again.
“She’s perfect.”
Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed.
“Nobody asked you.”
Lucia suddenly spoke.
“I like her.”
Everyone went quiet.
Lucia looked directly at Vincenzo.
“Very much.”
Vincenzo sighed.
“Grandmother—”
“No.”
She pointed her fork at him.
“Don’t start.”
Vincenzo leaned back.
“I haven’t said anything.”
“I know that face.”
Alessandro chuckled.
Lucia turned to Purvi.
“Don’t let this man frighten you.”
Purvi smiled.
“I’m not frightened.”
Vincenzo looked at her.
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
For the first time since the wedding, he seemed to be looking at her differently.
Not as a contractual obligation.
Not as an inconvenience.
But as someone who had somehow walked into his family’s breakfast table and immediately disrupted the balance of the entire household.
And Vincenzo didn’t like disruptions.
Especially when everyone else seemed to be enjoying this particular one.
He pushed his chair back.
“I’m leaving.”
Purvi looked up.
“You haven’t finished eating.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
He stood and walked away.
Alessandro watched him disappear.
Then he looked at Purvi.
“You know, I think you’re the first person who’s ever managed to irritate him before nine in the morning.”
Purvi smiled.
“Really?”
Isabella nodded.
“Definitely.”
Lucia laughed.
“Good.”
Purvi looked toward the doorway where Vincenzo had disappeared.
She couldn’t help smiling.
Perhaps this contract marriage wasn’t going to be as quiet as Vincenzo had promised.
And somewhere down the hallway, Vincenzo had the uncomfortable feeling that his grandmother was already plotting something.
He was right.