I didn’t get the chance to answer Wilthon. The host’s voice cut cleanly through the air, amplified and commanding.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please. We are about to begin.”
The room shifted almost instantly. Conversations tapered off, guests turning toward the stage as the lights softened just enough to draw focus forward.
A string quartet positioned near the far end began to play, their music smooth and deliberate, adding a layer of elegance that matched the scale of the event.
Wallace exhaled quietly beside me, his posture straightening as if he was stepping back into a role he knew by heart.
“Come on,” he said, his tone composed again, guiding me toward one of the reserved tables near the front.
The arrangement was nothing short of extravagant.
Round tab
