Paid for my sister’s wedding, and my mother sent me a message: «You don’t have to come to the celebration. Your stepfather thinks you’re ruining the family photo.» The next morning they received a notification that made everyone in the family FURIOUS…

Now it’s not embarrassing to invite his colleagues over. At family dinners, which happened about once a month, Alex mostly stayed silent, watching as Victor expounded on his successes at work and how hard it is to deal with ordinary people when you’re an educated person with a special mindset. «Take our Alex,» Victor liked to say, pointing his fork at his stepson.

A programmer, not a janitor, but looks like. He paused, searching for a suitable comparison, like a lumberjack on a stroll. His mother nervously giggled, his sister looked at her plate, and Alex silently chewed, understanding that arguing was pointless.

Over the years, relations with his stepfather didn’t improve. Victor, lacking real achievements, compensated by constantly criticizing those around him, especially Alex. Everything irritated him, from his stepson’s manner of speaking to his growing red beard, which he grew after thirty.

It’s just indecent. Victor fumed at dinner. «You look like a bum from the train station.

At least trim that mop.» Alex stayed silent, smiling at the corner of his mouth. His appearance, far from glossy standards, became a kind of shield, a natural filter screening out superficial people.

That day, when Mary, his younger sister, announced her upcoming wedding, Alex didn’t even hesitate. «I’ll pay for everything,» he said, watching his sister bloom with relief. «Choose any restaurant, dress, photographer, whatever you want.

Alex, you’re our savior.» His mother burst into tears right at the table, touched by her son’s generous gesture. Victor smiled tensely but didn’t comment.

Only later, when Alex was about to leave, his stepfather caught him in the hallway. «Don’t think that just because you’re paying, you can boss everyone around,» he said quietly, adjusting his tie knot. «The wedding is a family event.

Everything should look respectable.» Alex just snorted, letting the remarks pass by. He was used to such jabs.

The approaching Saturday and engagement Alex met with unexpected joy. For the first time in a long time, he felt useful to his sister, the only person in the family who never criticized him for his appearance or lifestyle. Maybe after the wedding, relations will improve, he thought, closing his laptop and heading to the meeting.

The universe, however, was already preparing a completely different scenario. A week before the wedding, Alex’s life was a chaos of organized busyness. Daily meetings with the wedding planner, endless money transfers to vendors, and coordinating the smallest details took up most of his free time.

Despite his own busyness with cybersecurity projects, he willingly dove into the pre-wedding hustle. Alex was sitting in a cafe across from the office when the wedding planner Irene, an elegant woman with a laptop and an eternal tablet in her hands, sat down with a businesslike air. The flowers are all set, she reported, scrolling through the list on her tablet.

The arrangements will be delivered to the restaurant by ten in the morning. The banquet hall is booked, the menu is approved. We just need to confirm the exact number of guests.

How many do we have on the preliminary list? – asked Alex, sipping his Americano. 93 people, including the newlyweds, replied Irene. But Mary said there might be changes.

I need to know the exact number by the end of the week. – Okay, I’ll check, – nodded Alex, pulling out his phone. For the second day, he had been trying to reach his sister, but Mary wasn’t picking up.

Her uncharacteristic elusiveness was starting to worry him. Usually, his sister answered almost instantly, but in recent days, conversations had become short and formal. Did you pick up the wedding dress? – inquired Alex, sending a message to Mary.

– Yes, yesterday. – Your sister? She looks stunning in it, – smiled Irene. – And have you decided what you’ll wear? Alex twirled his coffee mug.

I was thinking about a dark blue suit. Strict but not too formal. Tie or bow tie, haven’t decided yet.

Bow tie definitely. Irene said enthusiastically. – With your beard, it’ll be stylish and a bit bohemian.

Alex smiled. Hearing positive comments about his appearance was unusual. In his family, the beard remained a constant source of mockery, especially from Victor.

– I have a stylist friend, – continued Irene. He could put together a look that. Alex’s phone vibrated.

– Message from Mary, I’ll pass the list to mom, she’ll send it. The phrase seemed strange. Why did his sister suddenly decide to act through intermediaries? He dialed her number, but the call went unanswered again.

– Something wrong? – asked Irene, noticing Alex’s frown. – I don’t know, – he replied, setting the phone aside. – I hope not…