Chapter 58 Facing The Parents

• The tension in the room was palpable. Celia sat on the edge of the living room couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Across from her, her parents sat in matching armchairs, their expressions a blend of disappointment and concern. The clock on the mantel ticked loudly, punctuating the heavy silence that had descended after her father’s first words.
• “So,” her father began again, his voice low but firm, “you’re telling us that the man who stood up in front of everyone last night, declaring his so-called love for you, is Alexander Wright? The same Alexander Wright who has been in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons?”
• Celia flinched at his tone but held her ground. “Yes, Dad. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”