Every family gathering revolved around the preparations, and I was constantly excluded from decisions or treated as a problem when I tried to get involved.
When I offered to give something as a wedding gift, my mother scoffed and said, « We don’t need your charity, Maja. This wedding deserves the very best. »
I should have predicted what would happen at the wedding, but honestly, I didn’t even think they would go that far publicly.
The wedding was magnificent, I admit. Clara was radiant, Eli seemed happy, and the venue was absolutely splendid.
My parents spent a fortune they didn’t really need to spend to make everything perfect.
I was sitting at table number 12, in the back, with distant cousins I barely knew.
The other tables were occupied by Clara’s friends from university, Eli’s colleagues from work, and various family members.
I brought my boyfriend Marek along as an escort and he immediately sensed the tension within my family.
Dinner went relatively well. I chatted politely with my cousins, danced a few times with Mark, and tried to have a good time, even though I felt like an intruder at my sister’s wedding.
I even made a small toast when the family was invited to say a few words – it was short and sincere, wishing Clara and Eli happiness.
But then came the moment that changed everything.
My mother drank all evening, which was not unusual.
After a few glasses of wine, it always became louder and more theatrical.
At the end of the ceremony, she suddenly stood up from the head table, clinking her champagne glass to attract everyone’s attention.
« Ladies and gentlemen, » she announced, her voice echoing throughout the room. « I would also like to talk to you about my beautiful daughter, Clara. »
All eyes turned towards us, expecting another moving speech from the bride’s mother.
I only half-listened, thinking it would be more excessive praise.
« I am so proud of Clara, » Helen continued, her voice becoming louder and more theatrical.
« She has brought so much joy to our family. She is beautiful. She is kind. She is everything a parent could dream of. »
She paused for effect, and I saw a satisfied smile appear on Clara’s face.
Then my mother’s expression changed and she looked me straight in the eyes from across the room.
« At least she’s not a total failure like my other daughter, » she said.
Her words cut through the air like a knife. « The way she said them ruined my life and shattered my dreams. »
An absolute silence fell over the room. I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach.
Two hundred people were now looking at me, and my face was burning with shame and anger.
Mark shook my hand under the table, but I was paralyzed.
My father, George, encouraged by his wife’s cruelty, decided to add:
See the continuation on the next page.
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