My name is Emily, and I have been married to my wonderful husband, Alex, for over a decade. Alex, originally from China, captured my heart with his kindness and intelligence. He works in tech, a field he has always been passionate about.
A couple having coffee | Source: Pexels
On the other hand, I work as an accountant, so we both lead busy lives, juggling demanding jobs and personal projects. This often means we miss out on some family time. However, until recently, we always made an effort to attend important family gatherings, especially during the holidays.
A man working | Source: Pexels
Despite how busy Alex and I had been, I noticed that my family had started to distance themselves a bit more. For instance, I am really close to my cousins, but lately, they rarely speak to or even call me. I understand that I am at fault sometimes because of my busy schedule, but it has never stopped us from sharing short catch-up calls between breaks.
A woman happily working | Source: Pexels
I remember sitting down with Alex one evening, and I couldn’t stop thinking about this issue. I was so confused and started to worry. “Do you think they’re upset with us for missing Thanksgiving last year?” I asked, hoping it was just my imagination running wild.
A couple sitting on the couch | Source: Pexels
Alex looked up from his laptop, “Maybe, but it doesn’t make sense. We’ve missed dinners before, and your mom always says the family understands,” he replied, trying to reassure me. But the reassurance didn’t stick; I continued to worry more.
A couple talking while sitting on the couch | Source: Pexels
Then, a few months passed with this uncomfortable silence hanging between my family and me. No calls, no messages, nothing. It felt like being slowly erased from a picture I had always been a part of.
A woman thinking | Source: Pexels
I brought it up with my mother, but she also reassured me that nothing was wrong. “Those events aren’t crucial, and everyone knows how busy you and your husband are,” she said.
A woman on the phone | Source: Shutterstock
This feeling of being singled out became a painful whisper in my daily life. I wanted answers, but I was not getting them from my parents. Little did I know that the answers would come to find me.
A woman in a grocery store | Source: Pexels
I was pushing my cart through the grocery store, mentally ticking off items from my shopping list when I literally bumped into someone rounding the corner. To my surprise, it was my Aunt Linda, her arms full of groceries. “Emily! Oh my, what a surprise!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up with a genuine smile.
A woman smiling in the grocery store | Source: Pexels
“Aunt Linda!” I said, my heart swelling with joy. “I’ve missed you so much! How have you been?”
As we hugged, Aunt Linda’s expression shifted slightly, and there was hesitance in her voice as she spoke. “I’m good, darling. Actually, I was just at a little get-together the family threw for me. It’s a pity you and Alex couldn’t make it.”
Two women hugging | Source: Pexels
My smile faltered. “A get-together? We didn’t know anything about it.”
“Oh, that’s strange. But, Emily, there’s something else. Can I ask you something important?” Her tone was serious, filled with concern.
“Of course, Aunt Linda. What is it?” I braced myself, sensing something was amiss.
Two women laughing together | Source: Pexels
She took a deep breath and said, “Is what I heard about you true?” My heart sank. “I mean, your mom mentioned something that seems very out of character for you, and I wanted to see if it’s true.”
“What did she say?” I asked.
“She said you started working as a scammer, and that’s how you make a living. And that Alex helps because he’s like a ‘computer genius.’ I didn’t believe it, Emily, but…”
A woman whispering to another woman | Source: Shutterstock
I was stunned. “That’s not true, Aunt Linda. None of it. I can’t believe this!”
My heart started racing, but I couldn’t control the tears streaming down my face. I had to confront this head-on. I called my parents, and as soon as their faces appeared on FaceTime, I didn’t waste a moment. “Mom, Dad, why are you lying about us being scammers? Aunt Linda told me everything.”
A woman looking sad | Source: Pexels
Their expressions were unreadable. Dad looked straight into the camera and said bluntly, “Because you told us so.”
“I never said any such thing!” I countered, frustration boiling over. “Why would you even say that?”
A woman looking sad while on the phone | Source: Pexels
Mom walked off, refusing to participate, while Dad’s tone grew harsh. “You must have amnesia then,” he snapped before trying to switch the subject. The conversation ended with no resolution, but I did not understand why my parents would spread such a rumor about me and my husband.
A woman looking stressed while on the phone | Source: Shutterstock
I tried to get more information out of them, but they just kept insisting that I had said so. They even tried to downplay the whole ordeal, saying, “No one thinks any less of you because of it.” But how could they not see the damage they had caused?
A woman looking sad | Source: Pexels
It was not even about what people had to say or think of me, but the fact that my parents did not understand how much they single-handedly disrespected me and my husband. They have literally stereotyped my husband, which is offensive and problematic in many ways.
I tried to explain all this to them, but they were stubborn and did not want to be wrong. So, after much reflection and with a heavy heart, I decided to continue keeping my distance from my parents.
A woman thinking while in bed | Source: Shutterstock
The trust we had was shattered. Now, my Aunt Linda has been calling and asking me to forgive my parents. She even blamed herself for telling me and coming between my parents and me, but it was not her fault. The truth had to come out.
I know I will speak to my parents again, but I need space and want them to reflect on the severity of their actions. Nothing might come out of it, but I will be able to think and approach them with a clearer mind.
A woman looking sad | Source: Shutterstock
After all the calls and messages from Aunt Linda, I find myself questioning if I am wrong for wanting to keep away from them after they spread such harmful lies about us. Is it wrong to protect myself and my husband from further pain and misunderstanding?
A woman thinking | Source: Pexels
While Emily had her parents spread rumors about her, this 18-year-old was unexpectedly disowned by his family. Click here to read how the story unfolded.
My Family Disowned Me and Kicked Me Out of Home – Years Later, They Made Me Sole Heir to Everything They Have
It’s been ten years since that day—the day my world came crashing down. I’m 28 now, but at 18, the people I thought would be by my side through thick and thin turned their backs on me. My name is Neal, and this is the story of how a betrayal reshaped my entire life:
Four young men sitting on a mountain trail | Source: Unsplash
Imagine waking up one morning and everything you’ve ever known gets flipped on its head. That was my 18th birthday—not exactly the surprise I had hoped for. I was the baby of the family, the youngest of four brothers, living a pretty standard life in Wisconsin. Or so I thought.
A person holding a cake over a dinner table | Source: Pexels
The day started like any other birthday. There was no grand celebration planned, just a simple dinner with the family, which was fine by me. But as the day unfolded, it became clear this was no ordinary birthday. It was the day my family decided they were done with me.
An angry senior man | Source: Shutterstock
It started with my dad, out of nowhere, just as we were clearing the dinner table. He didn’t even look at me when he said it. “I never want to see you again,” he stated flatly, his tone mismatching the gravity of his words. The room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. My heart sank to my toes.
A senior lady looking indifferent | Source: Pexels
I looked to my mom, desperately hoping for some kind of explanation, some mistake. But she wouldn’t meet my eyes. She just stood there, as if carved from stone, clearly having made her decision.
I couldn’t believe it. These were the people who had raised me, who were supposed to love me unconditionally. Yet, here they were, cutting me off without so much as a reason why.
A distressed teenage boy sitting on the floor | Source: Shutterstock
I was speechless, my mind racing but coming up empty. What had I done to deserve this? There were no heated arguments leading up to this, and no warning signs. One day I was their son, and the next, I wasn’t.
A father posing with his young son | Source: Pexels
“Is this some kind of joke?” I managed to stammer out, looking from one face to another, searching for someone to say it was all a big misunderstanding. But no one spoke up. My brothers just avoided my gaze, and my dad reiterated, “Just leave, Neal.”
A back view of a young man holding his suitcase | Source: Unsplash
So, that’s what I did. I went up to my room, threw whatever I could into a bag—clothes, a few books, some personal keepsakes—and walked out the door of what was no longer my home. The sting of my dad’s words echoed in my ears with every step I took.
A young guy lying on a couch | Source: Unsplash
I ended up at my friend’s place, couch surfing with the uncertainty of my next meal or next move. The feeling of betrayal gnawed at me every single day. Then, just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, my Aunt Helena called. She had tried to visit me for my birthday, only to find the house void of my presence.
A worried senior woman talking on her phone | Source: Shutterstock
I answered the phone, “Aunt Helena,” trying to mask the worry in my voice.
“Neal, honey, where are you? I came by today, and your mother told me you were visiting friends,” she said, her voice filled with concern.
“I… I’m not at home right now,” I hesitated, unsure of how much to share.
A closer view of a window in a bedroom | Source: Pexels
“I knew something was off,” she said sharply. “I went to your room, Neal. It was empty. Tell me what happened.”
So, I told her everything, sparing no painful detail. Through the phone, I could almost feel her heart breaking alongside mine. She was furious, not just at the situation but at herself for not seeing the signs sooner. We talked for hours, and by the end of the call, she had made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
A sad young guy sitting in a car | Source: Shutterstock
“Come stay with me, Neal,” she murmured after I finished. “You’re not alone in this. I’ll support you till my last breath.”
True to her word, she was there for me. I packed up what little I had at my friend’s place, thanked him for his couch, and made the long trek to my aunt’s home in a small city six hours from Wisconsin. It wasn’t just a physical journey; it felt like I was moving towards a new phase of my life.
A senior woman hugging her young son | Source: Shutterstock
Living with Aunt Helena was like finding calm after a storm. She and her husband didn’t just give me a room; they gave me a home. With their encouragement, I started college. As the years slipped by, I pieced my life back together. I even met Catherine, who’s now my fiancée. We’re planning to get married next year.
A smiling young guy in a graduation gown | Source: Unsplash
Despite moving out three years ago when Catherine and I decided to take our relationship to the next level, Aunt Helena’s place still felt like home. I was there four to five times a week, and holidays were non-negotiable family gatherings at her house.
A family having dinner | Source: Shutterstock
However, three weeks ago, everything took another surreal turn. While I was at work, Aunt Helena called me with a tremble in her voice that sent a shiver down my spine. “Neal, can you come over?” she asked. I could hear the strain in her voice, and it scared me. I dropped everything and drove over.
