When Alice brought her new boyfriend, Kevin, to meet her parents, she anticipated a warm family dinner. However, the evening took a dramatic turn when her father locked Kevin in the basement and called the police, shattering Alice’s world. Kevin had been avoiding meeting her parents, citing work commitments, which I accepted because he was a mechanic. Today, however, he had taken the day off, and I was excited to introduce him to my family. “Mom’s making her famous lasagna,” I told Kevin in the car. He smiled, and I envisioned a perfect evening. Instead, what unfolded was chaos and heartbreak.

“I can’t wait,” Kevin said, squeezing my hand. He appeared calm but nervous, dressed nicely to make a good impression. We arrived at my parents’ cozy house with its big front porch. My dad, always protective, greeted us with a serious expression. As soon as we walked in, his demeanor changed. “Dad, this is Kevin,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. My dad stared at Kevin, his jaw clenched. Kevin extended his hand, saying, “Nice to meet you, sir.” After a tense moment, my dad shook it awkwardly and gruffly invited us inside. Mom greeted Kevin warmly, “Dinner’s almost ready!”