My Parents Wanted My Sister to Walk Down the Aisle

My parents always favored Melissa, leaving me an afterthought or scapegoat. Birthday parties, vacations, arguments—she got her way, and I learned to stay silent. In high school, she turned on me, accusing me of stealing and lying; they believed her.

I focused on grades, earned a scholarship, and left for college, where I found peace, independence, and Ryan. We fell in love, and he proposed. We planned a small wedding, but my parents offered to pay—with a catch: Melissa had to walk down the aisle first, in white. Ryan whispered, “Let them,” and arranged security. On the day, Melissa was barred from entering, melting down outside while I walked to Ryan, free of them. We married, left them fuming, and enjoyed our reception and a Bali honeymoon, phones off. I reclaimed my life—Melissa may have worn white, but I won.