Chapter 150

• Charlotte's face lit up, gratitude warming her from within; these powerhouses weren't just guests—they were allies. "Yes, it's locked in. The motive's everything to me: raising funds for poor kids' heart surgeries. The ones whose families can't afford the operations—tiny patients with failing hearts, waiting in limbo because money's the barrier, not medicine. As a cardiothoracic surgeon, I see it daily: parents rationing meals to scrape together copays, kids like Max fighting for every breath. This gala could fund ten surgeries, maybe more. Live auction, celebrity pulls—whatever it takes."
• Luciano swirled his glass thoughtfully, nodding with quiet intensity. "Noble cause. Hard work's brutal—my nephew had a valve repair last year. Cost a fortune. We'll match bids dollar-for-dollar. Natalie here's already rallying her art crowd."
• "Absolutely," Natalie chimed in, squeezing Charlotte's knee. Javier and Lena are donating pieces—'Urban Phoenix' studies and a 'Forged Heart' miniature. Imagine the bids! And Howard, your family's reach? Game-changer. These kids deserve warriors like you in their corner."