Alex held her close. "You are enough, Lena. You're more than enough. My father's opinions don't define your worth or your place in our family."
Edward was a man of strong opinions, and his way of showing love often felt critical or disapproving to Lena. Simple things, like her cooking or her choice of movies, were frequently met with unsolicited advice or veiled insults. Despite her best efforts to navigate these interactions with grace, she couldn't help but feel like she was walking on eggshells around him.
"Lena, I'm so sorry," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "I know how hard you've been trying to connect with him, to make him happy."