CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN – CELEBRATE ON OPENING NIGHT

The night before their grand opening, Charlotte lay awake, her thoughts a jumbled mess of excitement and fear. They'd come so far, overcome so much. But at what cost? And what new challenges awaited them? As dawn broke, Charlotte rose, steeling herself for whatever the day might bring. She arrived at the pub early, determined to double-check every detail. To her surprise, Bianca was already there, directing a team of decorators. "Charlotte!" Bianca exclaimed, her smile dazzling. "Isn't this exciting? Your big day is finally here!" Charlotte forced a smile. "Yes, very exciting. Bianca, can I talk to you for a moment?" Before Bianca could respond, Lorenzo burst in, his face flushed with excitement. "Ladies!" he boomed. "Are we ready to make history?" The day passed in a blur of last-minute preparations. As evening approached, Charlotte found herself standing before a mirror in the back office, smoothing her dress and taking deep breaths. A knock at the door startled her. "Come in