Chapter 155

• The car glided to a smooth halt before the grand entrance of the grand ballroom at the opulent Riverside Grand Hotel, its tires whispering against the red carpet that unfurled like a royal pathway under a canopy of twinkling fairy lights. Palm trees lined the approach, their fronds swaying gently in the evening breeze, while valets in crisp black uniforms stood at attention, ready to whisk away the arrivals of the city's elite.
• This was no ordinary gala; Charlotte's vision had drawn the wealthiest power players, A-list celebrities, and influential politicians from across the city, all united under the banner of hope for children's heart surgeries.
• Howard stepped out first, his tuxedo impeccable, the black fabric absorbing the golden floodlights as he extended a hand to Charlotte. She emerged like a vision, her golden-silver gown catching the light in a cascade of shimmering waves, the fitted bodice hugging her curves before flowing into a dramatic train that pooled elegantly at her silver heels.