Chapter 61 Slow Steps Toward Acceptance

• Celia stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the front of her dress, a sense of nervous energy coursing through her. Tonight was important—not just because it was another dinner with her parents, but because tonight was the first time they would meet Alexander under more than just the casual, surface-level circumstances. It wasn’t just a quick hello in passing or a polite conversation over tea. Tonight, Alexander was coming to dinner, and it was going to be a chance for her parents to truly see the man she loved, to witness the depth of his feelings for her—and, hopefully, to understand why she had chosen him despite everything.
• Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the collar of her dress, her reflection in the mirror showing both her excitement and the tension in her posture. It wasn’t lost on her how complicated this situation had become. Her parents’ disapproval had been palpable since they first found out about her relationship with Alexander. The age difference, their complex history, and the fact that Alexander had always been a figure of power and influence—these things weighed heavily on her family’s minds. They had never been completely comfortable with the idea of her being with someone so different from her usual circle, and their concerns had only grown as the relationship had deepened.
• Despite everything, Celia had stood by her choice, knowing in her heart that Alexander had been nothing but supportive, loving, and devoted to her in ways that were unmatched by anyone else she had ever been with. But that wasn’t enough to sway her parents—at least, not yet.