I Was Devastated to Learn the Reason Behind My Exclusion from Family Gatherings

I was overjoyed to see her. “Aunt Linda! We’ve missed you so much. How have you been?” Aunt Linda’s expression changed as we hugged, her voice filled with hesitation. “I’m alright, my dear. I was just at a small gathering my family organized for me. It’s a shame you and Alex couldn’t make it.”

My smile faltered. “A gathering? We didn’t know about it. That’s odd.” Aunt Linda seemed uneasy. “Emily, can I ask you something serious?” she hesitated, clearly concerned. “Of course, Aunt Linda. What is it?” I braced myself, sensing something was wrong.

With a deep sigh, she asked, “Is it true what I’ve heard about you?” My heart sank. “What do you mean?” I asked, dreading her response. “Your mom told me that you’ve become a con artist and that Alex is involved because of his tech skills. I didn’t believe it, but…”

I was stunned. “Aunt Linda, that’s completely untrue! None of it is true!” Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to comprehend this revelation. I knew I had to confront this head-on. I immediately called my parents, and as soon as their faces appeared on the screen, I didn’t hold back. “Why are you telling people we’re con artists, Mom and Dad? Aunt Linda just told me everything.”

Their expressions were unreadable. “Because you told us so,” my dad said flatly, staring directly at the camera. “No, I never said that!” I shot back, my anger boiling over. “What makes you think you can say that about us?”

Mom refused to engage, leaving the room as Dad’s tone grew harsher. “You must have forgotten,” he said abruptly, trying to change the subject. The conversation ended without any resolution, leaving me confused and hurt. They kept insisting that I had said it, trying to downplay the situation by saying, “No one thinks less of you because of it.” How could they think I would ever say such a thing?