The question hung in the quiet air, not as a burden, but as a promise. "What's next?" It was a spark thrown onto the dry tinder of their ambition, and they both felt the catch of flame.
The following morning, the shop felt different. The absence of the Jaguar was no longer a void but a canvas. The success of its restoration was a tangible force, an energy that seemed to vibrate in the very concrete beneath their feet. The check from Dr. Evans was not just a payment; it was a cornerstone, solid and real, laid into the financial foundation of V&C. The promised donation to the Covington Grant was a validation that resonated on a moral level, affirming that their vision could extend beyond their own walls and touch the lives of others.
