Over the next few weeks, an icy tension chills every interaction with my father. Any mention of mine and Charles' engagement is met with stony silence or mutterings under his breath about "this nonsense." Charles tries to reason with him, but my father is unswayable.
"Richard, we've been best friends for decades," Charles implores him one evening at the dinner table. "Doesn't that long history of brotherhood mean anything? Can't you accept that I love your daughter with everything I am?"
My father's fork clatters to his plate as he shakes his head vehemently. "You're dead to me, Charles. I can't respect a man who would be so dishonorable." He turns to me with disappointment etched in every line of his face. "And you...my own daughter. I never imagined you could bring such shame to this f
