Chapter 41

• The hall shimmered under soft chandeliers, elegant yet restrained. A touch of gold, a few white floral arrangements, and muted music set a dignified tone rather than an extravagant one.
• Eliot Carter, Mr. Wendell's son and the evening’s host, stood confidently on stage beside his father, greeting the guests with practiced ease. Microphones flashed, cameras clicked, and all eyes turned toward the Carter family gathered around the man of the hour.
• Mr. Wendell, sharp in a classic black tuxedo, smiled warmly, cutting a dignified figure. Anastasia stood close by his side, her usual charming smile looking hollow under the bright lights. The truth was simple: she could pretend politeness, but she liked Mr. Wendell as little as he liked her.