The Party
The sangeet finally came to an end sometime after midnight.
The music faded.
The guests slowly departed.
The lights around the mansion remained glowing, but the once-lively halls had become quiet again.
Purvi stood on the balcony outside her bedroom for a few minutes, breathing in the cool night air.
She had never experienced anything like it.
The dancing.
The laughter.
The endless teasing.
And, unfortunately, being caught by her husband in front of everyone.
She touched her cheek at the memory.
Vincenzo’s arms had been around her waist.
His expression had been…
She shook her head.
No.
She wasn’t going to think about it.
It was nothing.
He had simply caught her because she was falling.
That was all.
The next morning, Purvi woke early.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains as she sat before the mirror, drying her damp hair with a soft towel.
She had changed into a beautiful purple sari.
The color complimented her skin beautifully, and the simple gold border gave it an elegant touch.
Her wedding chain rested against her neck.
She opened a small container of vermillion and carefully applied it along the parting of her hair.
She studied her reflection.
For some reason, seeing the vermillion still felt strange.
She was married.
A wife.
Even if the marriage wasn’t real in the way most marriages were.
It was still her reality.
She finished drying her hair and began combing it.
A knock sounded.
She turned.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Vincenzo walked inside.
He was already dressed for the day in a crisp white shirt and black trousers.
His sleeves were rolled to his forearms.
His expression was as unreadable as ever.
His eyes briefly landed on Purvi.
Then moved away.
“There’s a party tonight.”
Purvi looked at him through the mirror.
“A party?”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“A family party.”
She turned around.
“Why?”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“Because people are coming.”
Purvi blinked.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
His jaw tightened.
“It’s a gathering.”
“Okay.”
“That’s all?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know.”
Purvi smiled.
“You’re the one who came to tell me.”
Vincenzo looked irritated.
“I thought you should know.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
Then turned toward the door.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
Purvi pointed toward the mirror.
“Do I need to dress formally?”
“Obviously.”
She frowned.
“Obviously?”
“It’s a De Luca event.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything.”
Vincenzo sighed.
“Just wear something appropriate.”
Purvi crossed her arms.
“What does appropriate mean?”
“A dress.”
“I don’t want to wear a dress.”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“Then wear whatever you want.”
Purvi smiled.
“Okay.”
He stared at her for another moment.
She was smiling again.
She always smiled.
He didn’t understand how someone could smile so much.
Especially in a house like his.
“Why are you always smiling?”
The question slipped out before he could stop himself.
Purvi’s smile softened.
“Because I like smiling.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is.”
Vincenzo frowned.
She looked at him.
“You don’t smile.”
“I have no reason to.”
“That’s sad.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I’m not sad.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“You implied it.”
Purvi laughed softly.
“I think you’re just irritated because you don’t know how to smile.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“You’re becoming very comfortable.”
Purvi’s smile faded slightly.
“I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t say you had to apologize.”
“But you said—”
“I said you’re becoming comfortable.”
Purvi nodded.
“I’ll remember.”
He looked away.
For some reason, her immediate retreat bothered him.
“Don’t misunderstand me.”
She looked at him.
“This marriage is still a contract.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want you behaving differently because we’re married.”
Purvi nodded.
“I understand.”
There was a brief silence.
Vincenzo glanced at her reflection again.
The purple sari.
The vermillion.
The wedding chain.
She looked…
He stopped.
His eyes shifted away.
“You’ll need to be downstairs by seven.”
“Okay.”
He walked out.
Purvi watched the door close.
She smiled faintly.
“He really is irritating.”
Downstairs, breakfast was already being served.
Alessandro was seated at the table with Isabella.
Lucia was reading the newspaper while Serafina drank her coffee.
Monisha was there too.
The moment Purvi entered, Isabella smiled.
“There she is.”
Purvi smiled.
“Good morning.”
Lucia immediately looked up.
“My beautiful girl.”
Purvi walked toward her.
“Good morning, Grandmother.”
Lucia looked at her sari.
“Purple suits you.”
“Thank you.”
Alessandro looked over.
“Vincenzo told you about tonight?”
Purvi nodded.
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“Did he make it sound like you’re attending a business meeting?”
Purvi laughed.
“Pretty much.”
Isabella shook her head.
“That’s Vincenzo.”
Serafina placed her cup down.
“What are you wearing tonight?”
Purvi looked at her.
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Make sure it’s elegant.”
Her tone wasn’t exactly warm.
Purvi nodded.
“Of course.”
Lucia glanced at her daughter.
“She’s perfectly capable of choosing her own clothes, Serafina.”
Serafina smiled tightly.
“I was only advising her.”
Purvi quietly sat down.
Monisha watched her.
“You seem very comfortable here.”
Purvi smiled.
“I’m trying.”
Monisha leaned back.
“That’s good.”
Her eyes briefly moved toward Vincenzo, who had just entered the room.
“You’ll need to get used to the attention.”
Vincenzo took his seat.
“She doesn’t need to get used to anything.”
Monisha looked at him.
“You married her into this family.”
Vincenzo’s expression hardened.
“And?”
“And she should understand what comes with it.”
Purvi glanced between them.
Before the conversation could continue, Lucia spoke.
“Tonight is supposed to be enjoyable.”
Everyone went quiet.
Lucia looked at Vincenzo.
“Don’t ruin it.”
Vincenzo sighed.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
Alessandro smirked.
“I’ll believe that when I see it.”
Vincenzo glared at him.
Alessandro immediately returned to his breakfast.
Purvi tried to hide her smile.
Vincenzo noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re smiling.”
“I smile.”
“I’ve noticed.”
She looked at him.
“Then why did you ask?”
Alessandro burst out laughing.
Isabella followed.
Even Lucia chuckled.
Vincenzo looked around the table.
Nobody seemed remotely intimidated by him anymore.
And somehow, he knew exactly who was responsible.
He looked at Purvi.
She was quietly eating breakfast, completely innocent.
Vincenzo leaned back.
This woman had been in his house for only a few days.
Already, his grandmother adored her.
His siblings teased him because of her.
His mother disliked her.
Monisha watched her.
And now his entire family seemed determined to make his life more complicated.
He had thought the contract would make everything simple.
He was beginning to realize that he had been terribly wrong.
By evening, the mansion would once again be filled with guests.
And for the first time since the wedding, Purvi would be introduced not simply as Vincenzo’s bride…
But as Mrs.
De Luca.
Neither of them knew that tonight’s party would bring someone into the mansion who would change everything.