Chapter 6 - FATHER’S SILENT STRENGTH
Standing in the bridal suite with the stiff, scratchy fabric of the clown costume pressing against my skin, my father’s steady hands smoothed down the oversized red collar. He didn't look at the ridiculous hat or the painted buttons; he looked directly into my eyes with the same quiet pride he had shown thirty years ago when he taught me how to wire an electrical panel safely.
“You’ve worked too hard and built too much to let a miserable woman steal your dignity, Ren,” my father said, his voice deep and unyielding. “If you want to walk out there in those stripes, your old man will walk right beside you every step of the way.” That simple affirmation anchored me completely. The fear and anger evaporated, replaced by absolute, unshakeable resolve. Vivian wanted a circus, and I was more than ready to ring the bell.
