CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT - Last-Minute Hurdles

The doors swung open, and the first wave of guests began to pour in. Ella greeted each one with a warm smile and a cheerful "Merry Christmas!" Her eyes darted around the room, checking that everything was in place. The new ice sculpture, hastily carved but still impressive, stood proudly in the center of the main hall. Its crystalline surface caught the light from the twinkling fairy lights strung overhead, casting a magical glow across the room. Ella silently thanked the local artist who had come through for them at the last minute. As more guests arrived, the atmosphere began to shift. The soft background music, a carefully curated playlist of classic and contemporary Christmas songs, filled the air. The hum of conversation grew louder, punctuated by bursts of laughter and exclamations of delight as people discovered the various attractions spread throughout the venue. Ella watched as a group of children gathered around the gingerbread house decorating station, their eyes wide wit