Chapter 60 #2
I visited Olivia at her table. She had come with Marko as her date again, but fortunately, he was nowhere to be seen.
I despised him, mostly because he knew about my Vitalyn addiction.
I still didn’t know whether he took it himself or just sold it.
I’d have to tell Olivia about it eventually, but not tonight—not with Marko and all these other guests around.
“How are you doing?” Olivia asked after we had said hello. She looked stunning as always in a cream-coloured Valentino dress. I couldn’t help but remember how I’d felt after we had broken up—how easy it had been, and how different it was from what I was going through with Kate.
“I don’t know,” I replied truthfully.
Olivia reached out to pat my hand. “You know that you can always talk to me.”
“Thank you. Right now, I just need some time for myself.”
“OK, but just know that I’m here.”
I nodded. “Maybe we can meet for a coffee soon. We haven’t done that in ages, and there are a couple of things I want to talk to you about.”
She looked at me attentively, her curiosity piqued. “And whose fault is that, Mr. Busy?”
I pulled a face. She was right. I really had neglected her over the past few months—partly because of Kate, but mostly because of work. But that was about to change.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Let me make it up to you. Forget coffee. Dinner. You pick the place. My treat.”
Olivia grinned and clinked her champagne flute against my water glass, as if to toast the idea. “Sounds good. Apology accepted.”
We talked until Vivian came back to fetch me.
All the guests had now arrived, and it was time for the evening’s official programme to begin.
By now, the donations had surpassed seven million pounds.
The band played their final song and left the stage—it was my turn.
The conversations grew quieter until they eventually stopped altogether.
I squared my shoulders and walked onto the stage with decisive steps that concealed how fast my heart was racing—both from nerves and excitement.
Against all odds, the Pearl Gala was clearly going to be a success.
And this year, I had the honour of delivering the welcome speech for the first time.
Although I had been organising the Pearl Gala for a while, my dad had always insisted on handling this part. Tonight, it was my turn.
I stood behind the podium and let my gaze sweep over the crowd. All I saw were friendly, curious, and open faces—devoid of the hatred and prejudice that had made my life hell over the past few months.
I cleared my throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Henry Darlington, and it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to The Darlington’s forty-fourth Pearl Gala.
This event is the highlight of my year and one of my personal favourites.
Founded by my grandmother, Selma, the Pearl Gala has always aimed to help those who cannot help themselves—whether people or animals.
” I paused briefly for effect. “This year, the Pearl Gala is raising funds for a special organisation very close to my heart: Hope Harbour. For years, Hope Harbour has been fighting homelessness in the United Kingdom. They lend a hand where others look away, giving a voice to those who are all too often ignored and overlooked. Tonight, we all have the oppor—”
I fell silent. The last syllables caught in my throat when, to my surprise, I spotted Kate in the crowd.
She was here! My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat.
Kate was really here. She stood at the back of the hall with Grace, standing out like a diamond in a heap of coal, even though she was wearing neither an elegant dress nor a smart trouser suit.
Instead, she was in tattered jeans and her old leather jacket.
She stared at me with her big brown eyes, robbing me of both my breath and my words.
The hall had fallen deathly silent. Everyone was waiting for me to continue. I tried to remember what I had wanted to say.
“. . . the opportunity,” I managed, but my throat was suddenly dry as dust. I swallowed hard. “The opportunity . . . to make a difference. Each of us can contribute to ensuring that Hope Harbour can continue their work. And . . . and . . .”
My mind went blank. I couldn’t remember another word of my two-page speech.
All I could think about was Kate. She was here.
What was she doing here? I had to talk to her—immediately, before she disappeared again.
This might be my only chance to tell her, face-to-face, how much I loved her and how terribly sorry I was for how things had turned out.
“And now, Matilda Gallagher will tell you more about Hope Harbour’s mission,” I said, abruptly cutting my speech short. “Please, put your hands together for Matilda!” I clapped, then left the stage as fast as I could.
Tilly took my place behind the podium, looking slightly taken aback by my sudden departure—I was supposed to stay on stage with her.
Instead, I hurried across the hall towards Kate.
But she was no longer there. I looked around frantically.
My nervous movements had begun to attract attention, but I didn’t care.
Where was Kate? She had been standing right here—I was sure of it.
I hadn’t imagined her. Had she already left? She couldn’t have!
“Turn around,” a familiar female voice said.
Grace. She stood just a few steps away, pointing at something behind me.
I turned, and my heart started pounding. It was Kate—and she was stepping onto the stage.