When my parents chose my brother’s game over my wedding, I felt the sting of neglect. Their decision sparked a family upheaval, forcing them to face the consequences of their actions.

Ever since my brother Mike was born, my parents have doted on him, leaving me in the shadows. At 27, I discovered they had used my college fund to buy Mike a car and a house. The only one who stood up for me was my grandpa.

When I met Lucas and we decided to get married, I thought it was a chance for my parents to show they cared. But when I invited them to dinner to break the news, my mom said, “Oh, honey, unfortunately, Mike has his game. We can’t come to the wedding.” Her dismissive tone hurt deeply.

On my wedding day, my grandpa gave me away. It was a beautiful ceremony. Upon returning from our honeymoon, I was bombarded with angry messages from Mike. A viral Facebook post from my aunt criticizing my parents for their favoritism had caused a stir in our community.

My parents, faced with public shaming and my grandpa’s disapproval, reached out to apologize. They promised to make amends and go to counseling. “We love you, Emily. We’re sorry it took so long for us to show it,” they said.

Over the next few months, they made efforts to be involved in my life and treat Mike and me equally. Sometimes, it takes a harsh wake-up call for people to realize their mistakes. My parents are slowly earning my trust back, and I’m hopeful for the future.