The hospital room felt smaller now that the deal was signed. Mr. Charles stood by the window, his silhouette dark against the afternoon sun. He turned to look at Drayson, then at Helen, who was sitting up in bed with a determined look on her face. "The doctors are finalizing your discharge papers, Helen," Mr. Charles said, his voice deep and formal. "You will be out by tomorrow morning. After that, the clock starts ticking. I am setting the date for the grand gala for exactly three days from now. Make sure you are both ready. That night is when we change the narrative of this city." He paused, looking directly at Drayson. "I am releasing a memo to the press tonight. It will state that my daughter is engaged, but I will keep your identity a secret. I want the city to whisper. I want them to imagine a ghost. When you finally step into that ballroom, I want their hearts to stop." "I’ll be ready," Drayson said, his voice low. Mr. Charles nodded and stepped out to handle the medical