Father’s Retreat
With the weight of his wife’s gaze and the tension in the air pressing down on him, Alicia’s father retreated. Each step seemed deliberate, echoing a mix of frustration and reluctance. Jeremiah glanced at Alicia, his face pale, still trying to process the inexplicable hostility. Alicia’s hand tightened around her purse, the knuckles white, as they both watched the patriarch disappear into the house.