You forgot to invite us to the party
Rebecca adored her husband. She felt truly fortunate to have him in her life. William was such a caring and loving man, always striving to do everything for his beloved.
However, Rebecca wasn’t as lucky with her husband’s relatives. There’s a saying about a black sheep in every family, but in their case, it felt like William was the only normal one, while the others all had their quirks.
Her father-in-law, for instance, would always comment on how Rebecca seemed to have gained weight whenever he saw her. He would jokingly imply she might be hiding someone in her belly.
The truth was, Rebecca was in excellent shape and hadn’t gained a single pound since she met William’s parents. Yet Nigel seemed unbothered by that fact. It seemed as if his comment was some sort of fixed routine, and even if Rebecca had lost ten pounds, he would’ve still made the same remark.
Nigel also had a habit of making inappropriate jokes, laughing at them himself, making Rebecca feel uncomfortable. His refusal to wear a shirt at home only added to her discomfort.
William’s mother, Edith, loved to instruct everyone on various matters, even on things she herself knew nothing about.
She would advise Rebecca on dressing fashionably, suggest how she should cut her hair, and which lipstick would look best. When Rebecca and William moved into their own flat, Edith became even more intrusive—exploring every corner of their home, critiquing and instructing how things should have been set up.
There was also William’s younger sister, a flighty woman with two kids by different fathers, neither of whom she’d had serious relationships with. She dragged her children everywhere and felt like everyone owed her something because she was a mother. People were expected to give up their seat on public transport, let her skip queues, serve her first.
Despite receiving child support and government benefits, and still relying on her parents financially, Natalie constantly hunted for freebies. She took things even when she didn’t need them, purely for the thrill of being the first to grab something. Hence, their house was perpetually cluttered with useless items, unwanted clothes, toys, and nappies no longer needed, which Rebecca hoped to sell. Natalie called it her business—pretending to be poor and needy to get items for free, then selling them.
Her children were unruly and bold, but it wasn’t entirely their fault—they could hardly be otherwise with their mother. If they visited someone’s home, they’d search for treats, grab what they liked, and take things without asking. Natalie never scolded them.
Rebecca shuddered at the memory of the one time Natalie and her kids came to their housewarming party. She had given them a teapot set she likely got for free, and after they left, there were no sweets left, a new vase was broken, and the curtains were smeared with what Rebecca hoped was chocolate.
So, unsurprisingly, as Rebecca’s birthday approached, she was resolute in not inviting William’s relatives. Otherwise, her celebration would be ruined—Nigel would make inappropriate jokes, Edith would offer unsolicited advice, and Natalie would scrounge around for unwanted items for her kids, while the kids themselves would wreak havoc in their home.
Though she felt a bit uneasy admitting her decision to William, she sincerely hoped he would understand.
“Will, I’d like to celebrate my birthday at home. Just invite my parents and a couple of friends.”
“Sure, that sounds perfect. We put so much effort into decorating the house beautifully,” William smiled.
“Exactly. It looks like a photo studio now… but…”
“But what?” William tensed up.
“Please don’t be offended. I don’t want to invite your relatives.”
William sighed deeply and nodded.
“I’m sorry, but they make me so uncomfortable. On my birthday, I just want to relax, not worry about any unpleasant surprises,” Rebecca confessed guiltily.
“I understand, there’s no need to explain. They are quite difficult.”
“Are you upset?”
“No, not at all. It’s your special day, and it should be exactly what you want.”
Rebecca was reassured yet again that her husband was the best man in the world. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was somehow adopted—it would certainly explain a lot.
Rebecca chose not to mention her birthday plans to William’s parents, simply saying she and William would spend it together. William also promised not to tell them anything.
Yet somehow, they found out. Edith rang Rebecca’s mother under the pretense of discussing something related to both of their professions, and she casually spilled the beans.
“Well, your wife really did us a disservice!” Edith yelled. “We’re just not good enough, are we?!”
“Mum,” William tried to calm her down, “Rebecca just wanted to celebrate with her own parents and a couple of close friends. It’s her birthday, and she should decide how to celebrate. If there had been a big party, you would’ve certainly been invited.”
“I understand. And you can tell your wife that we are deeply hurt!”
After his mother hung up, William shook his head. He understood his wife completely. It might not be right to say this, but he’d always felt a bit embarrassed by his family, and he didn’t want Rebecca to feel the same way.
Thus, he chose not to tell her, not wanting to ruin the party. He decided to share his mother’s words after the celebrations.
On the morning of Rebecca’s twenty-sixth birthday, William gifted her a bouquet and a spa voucher. Knowing how exhausted she was—juggling their wedding, the move and renovation, and work—he wanted her to relax.
As the day went on, guests started arriving. Rebecca had truly outdone herself: she cooked a delicious meal, dressed up beautifully, and styled her hair. It was clear how happy she was, looking forward to a day full of happiness and memories.
Little did she know what awaited her.
Once everyone was settled, the doorbell rang.
“That must be the cake,” Rebecca jumped up, rushing to the door. “I completely forgot, so ordered it last minute.”
But her smile vanished as soon as she opened the door. Standing there were the uninvited guests—all of them.
“Happy birthday, Rebecca,” Edith said with pursed lips, handing her a single rose. “Can we come in?”
With no other options, she stepped aside.
It quickly became chaotic. Natalie’s kids kicked off their shoes and sprinted to the table. Nigel immediately commented that Rebecca’s dress seemed a size too small.
“You could use a size up,” he chuckled.
“Did you forget to invite us?” Edith continued, eyeing the guests. “You have people over, but we didn’t make the list. Goodness, Rebecca! You’ve invited guests over, but forgot to clean the floors.”
Rebecca thought of mentioning it was her grandchildren who had dirtied the floors, but stayed silent instead.
Her mood plummeted. The kids began clamoring, grabbing food with their hands, and rummaging through cabinets for sweets. The younger child even started crying when he couldn’t find a cake.
“You could have at least gotten a cake, look how upset Sam is,” Natalie commented immediately. “Oh, are those perfumes? Let me try. You’ll give me your old ones then, right?”
Rebecca hadn’t said a word throughout. William stayed quiet too, observing his family as they took seats at the table, demanding plates, listening to his mother critiquing the food and his father cracking strange jokes.
But William’s patience snapped when he caught Natalie, believing no one was looking, taking the envelope filled with cash gifts that was lying on a nearby table.
“Put it back!” William barked.
“What do you mean?” Natalie blinked innocently.
“I saw everything!”
“I just wanted to add some money in there. I only didn’t buy a new envelope,” she began to explain.
“Don’t nitpick, William, let’s not ruin the evening,” his mother cut in. “Maybe remind your wife it’s impolite not to invite family, instead.”
“And make sure she knows her dress size too,” his father laughed, “Rebecca, every fold is visible in that dress.”
“Right!” William slammed his hand on the table, making even the children fall silent. “Mum, Dad, Natalie, you need to go.”
“What?!” his mother exclaimed. “How dare you?”
“How dare you show up uninvited? How dare you insult my wife? How dare your kids, Natalie, behave so rudely? Until you all learn some manners, you’re not welcome in this house.”
Naturally, a big argument ensued. Rebecca didn’t truly relax until the uninvited guests had left.
Unsurprisingly, her birthday was spoiled. Despite friends and her parents’ attempts to cheer her up, it was hard to reclaim the mood.
Yet there was a silver lining: Rebecca was reassured once more that she had chosen the right partner in life. A man who stood up for her, even against his own family. No matter what happened, Rebecca knew he would always be on her side. And that was probably the best gift she could ever receive.
