The crowd, philanthropists in shimmering gowns, doctors in tailored tuxes, donors clutching auction paddles like talismans had fallen into a stunned hush before erupting into whispers that spread like wildfire.
"I had no idea," murmured a socialite in a gold gown, dabbing at her eyes with a napkin, her voice thick with empathy. "All that pain… and he turned it into this? He's not just a doctor, he's a survivor." Her companion, a tech mogul with a salt-and-pepper beard, nodded solemnly, his usual bravado softened. "Makes you rethink everything. The guy's a legend, but now? He's human. Makes his success even more… inspiring."
