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…

Let’s finish with the organizational questions, and I’ll get the list, I promise. The rest of the day passed in work routine. Alex tried to focus on the project to protect the banking system, but his thoughts kept returning to his sister’s strange behavior.

At six in the evening, when the office started emptying, he decided to call his mother. – Hi, Mom, – he said when she finally answered after the fifth ring. – Alex.

His mother’s voice sounded unusually tense. – How’s work? – Fine. – Do you know what’s up with Mary? – She’s not answering calls.

A short pause on the other end of the line. – She’s very busy, dear. – Fittings, meetings with the groom.

– You understand, pre-wedding fuss. – Yeah, but she needs to confirm the guest list. – Can you tell her that? Alex, his mother interrupted him, and something in her voice made Alex tense.

– We need to talk. – Could you come over today? – Did something happen? – We’ll talk at home. – Can you be here by eight? Anxiety, coiled somewhere in his chest, began to grow.

– Okay, I’ll be there. At eight in the evening, Alex stood at the door of his former apartment, holding a set of keys. Technically, he could enter himself; the apartment belonged to him, but over the years, he had gotten used to ringing, respecting the privacy of the people living there.

Even if formally, these people were living on his territory. His mother opened the door. Her hair, usually perfectly styled, looked disheveled, and her eyes were red, as if from tears.

«Come in,» she said, letting her son inside. In the living room, Alex encountered an unusual scene. Victor sat in an armchair with an uncharacteristically serious expression, and Mary was settled on the couch, fiddling with the edge of her blouse.

The atmosphere resembled a family council gathered before announcing sad news. «What’s going on?» asked Alex, stopping in the middle of the room. Victor cleared his throat and straightened up, assuming his favorite pose as the head of the family.

«Alex, we need to discuss some. Organizational moments of the wedding. I’m all ears.»

His mother cast a quick glance at Victor, then at Mary, and finally resolved, «Alex, dear, we think that … perhaps … it would be better if you … don’t come to the ceremony,» Victor finished for her, looking Alex straight in the eyes. A heavy silence hung. Alex felt everything inside turning to ice.

«What?» «Understand correctly,» continued Victor, rubbing his hands, «we’ll have important guests. Colleagues from the administration, city officials, business partners. Everything should look … solid.»

«And I, apparently, am not solid enough,» Alex said slowly, beginning to understand where the conversation was heading. «It’s not about that.» His mother intervened.

«It’s just that you know, you have this … image. The beard—your build. In the photos, it will look.»

«Like what?» Alex’s voice remained calm, though tension was building inside. «Like a living person, not a magazine picture.» «Like out of place,» Victor cut off.

«Let’s speak plainly. Your appearance doesn’t match the event’s format. This is an elite occasion where everything should be.»

Beautiful and glamorous, Alex finished through gritted teeth. «Got it.» He shifted his gaze to Mary.

«And you agree with this?» His sister flinched, not lifting her eyes. «I … I just want everything to go perfectly, Alex.» Flawless photos, beautiful memories.

«Without me,» clarified Alex. «Don’t dramatize,» Victor interjected. «No one is saying you can’t participate at all.

You’ve already made an invaluable contribution by paying for the celebration. That means a lot to us.» Alex smirked.

«So my money is enough, but my presence isn’t?» «Alex, don’t start,» his mother sighed. We just want everything to be perfect. You could at least trim your beard.»

«It’s not just the beard,» interrupted Victor. «The whole image … outdated. Guests will notice, ask questions.

We don’t need that.» Something finally broke in Alex. For 15 years, he had endured comments and jabs, tolerated mockery and criticism…