The morning sunlight, filtered through sheer curtains, gently fell upon the intertwined forms of Shijia and Shiva. Shiva caressed her soft hair, his voice low and magnetic: "Tonight's charity event, I'd like you to attend with me. To add some color to our future." His eyes were full of starlight, as if promising an eternal dream. Shijia buried her face in his chest, feeling that sense of stability, yet a faint unease flickered in her heart. As night fell, the Starlight Charity Gala glittered with opulence, a dazzling spectacle of fine clothes and fragrances. Shijia, dressed in a meticulously chosen gown, felt an invisible pressure the moment she stepped into the venue. The air, heavy with the scent of champagne and money, made her breathe cautiously. Just as she was feigning composure, an icy voice echoed behind her: "Oh? Isn't this Shiva's... little cat?" Shijia stiffly turned, meeting Nandini's haughty gaze, which was filled with undisguised contempt. Nandini wore a deep purple custom gown, adorned with priceless jewels, every glance a barbed hook. "Someone like you, does she even qualify for such an occasion?" Nandini lifted her chin, gesturing to a nearby waiter. "Check the guest list, don't let just any riff-raff wander in." The waiter, after checking, awkwardly shook his head at Shijia: "I apologize, Miss, your name... is indeed not on the list." A tidal wave of shame instantly engulfed Shijia. Her cheeks burned, and she wished the earth would swallow her whole. The curious, judgmental glances from around the room felt like silent taunts, stabbing at her heart. "Wait." A steady voice, like a bolt of lightning, cut through the clamor. Shiva strode forward, walking directly to Shijia and gently sweeping her into his embrace. His eyes met Nandini's, his tone calm but unwavering: "I invited her. The list might not have been updated in time, I apologize." His words plunged Nandini into an abyss of embarrassment. She had intended to humiliate Shijia and have her removed, only for Shiva to publicly defend her. Enraged, her eyes flashed with malice, and her voice turned sharp: "Apology? Hmph, what can your apology change? A street beggar, with a dirty pauper girl, thinks simply donning designer labels will get her a place here?" She surveyed the room, her tone utterly contemptuous: "Look around you. Which single item here isn't worth more than your combined possessions? You are utterly unfit to be here, and you certainly don't deserve to tarnish this elegant occasion!" Shiva's face turned to ice in an instant, but his voice remained unflappable, though every word was a sharp blade: "Since Ms. Nandini places such importance on material value... how about we play a game?" He looked directly at Pradeep, his gaze predatory: "At tonight's auction, if I manage to secure the most expensive item, your fiancé — Pradeep — must dance stark naked in front of everyone." At this declaration, shock rippled through the hall! The air grew thick with tension, and all eyes were riveted on Shiva and Pradeep. Pradeep was initially stunned, then his face contorted with rage at the humiliation. He arrogantly curled his lips: "What's there to be afraid of? It's just a pauper's delusion!" The auction commenced. The auctioneer unveiled the velvet cloth, revealing the first item: a Rani Indumati necklace, five millennia old, shimmering under the spotlights, radiating an ancient grandeur. "Starting price—five hundred thousand rupees!" Shijia gasped sharply, her face draining of color. Five hundred thousand rupees! For her, it was an astronomical sum, utterly unattainable! Nandini's lips curled into a malicious smirk. She leaned close to Shijia's ear, her voice laced with disdain, clear and cutting: "It seems someone has already lost, hasn't she, even before the game truly begins?" The entire room watched with a mix of curiosity, anticipation, and a hint of schadenfreude. Was Shiva's challenge pure bravado, or did he possess an unseen ace up his sleeve? Suspense hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension. Tonight was destined to be anything but peaceful.