Chapter 12: Publicity.

Aaron Westfield, Celine's father, conveyed his reproach through the phone. "It's a bit rude to discover my daughter is seeing such an influential man through the internet," he said, his voice laced with concern.

Celine, despite the gravity of the situation, managed a nervous chuckle in response. "I'm sorry about that," she said, her voice betraying the mounting tension she felt as she continued to scroll through the barrage of online articles and posts about her dinner date with Ermanno.

"I've missed you, Celine. Come home today," Aaron said, his voice tinged with longing.

"Sure thing, Dad. I'll talk to you later," Celine replied, her tone measured and polite. As she ended the call, her thoughts turned to the complicated relationship with her father, one that was marked by both love and tension.

Celine's eyes fell on a blog post that sent her heart racing. "Unknown woman spotted with Ermanno Vitale on a date," she read aloud with growing indignation.

"Unknown? It's Celine, you idiots,