For 30 years, a devoted father had raised five wonderful children, never doubting that they were his. But his world turned upside down when his eldest daughter handed him the results of an ancestry test, revealing a shocking truth: he was not her biological father.
The father, known as “Needadvicedesperate” on Reddit, had been with his high school sweetheart for nearly three decades. Together, they had built a life that seemed perfect, complete with their five children. But this ancestry test changed everything.
It all started when his eldest daughter took an ancestry test out of curiosity. When she saw the results, she was devastated. She came to her father, tears streaming down her face, and said, “Dad, the test says you’re not my real father.” Her voice trembled as she handed him the results.
The father was in shock. He had always trusted his wife completely, and this new information felt like a punch to the gut. Despite his own turmoil, he comforted his daughter, telling her, “No matter what these results say, I love you just the same.”
Not convinced the test was accurate, he and his daughter decided to do a formal paternity test. When the results came back, they confirmed the worst: he was not her biological father. This news left him reeling. He shared his feelings later: “Discovering my wife’s betrayal and seeing how my reaction hurt my daughter was overwhelming. I wish I had been stronger for her, but I wasn’t.”
Struggling to cope, the father decided to test his other children too, except for his youngest daughter, who was just 14. He didn’t want to burden her with such a painful truth. He wanted to understand how long his wife had been unfaithful. “We told the other three what had happened,” he explained. “I reassured them of my love and said I needed to find out the full extent of the betrayal.”
Until this moment, the children had believed he was their biological father. Seeing their father’s distress, they agreed to take the tests to support him. The results were devastating: none of the three older children were biologically his, and each had a different father. This discovery left him heartbroken.
He realized that keeping the truth from his youngest daughter would only make things worse if she found out later. It was clear to him now that his wife had multiple affairs over the years. The emotional toll was immense. He confronted his wife, hoping she would admit her wrongs and seek forgiveness.
When he showed her the test results, she brushed them off, saying, “These tests might be faulty. Do you really not trust me after all these years?” She tried to make him feel guilty for doubting her.
Despite her denial, the father stood his ground. He struggled with how to support his children while dealing with his own pain. Most importantly, he didn’t want to hurt his youngest daughter too soon. Seeking advice, he turned to the Reddit community, hoping for guidance on how to handle the situation.
One Redditor sympathized with his plight and offered this advice: “She had multiple affairs and children with different men and won’t even admit it when caught. But don’t just walk away. There’s a lot we don’t know about your situation. This is your life.”
The father expressed his worries about how this would affect his youngest daughter and sought further advice, focusing on her emotional well-being.
Another Reddit user, pancakeday, advised him to be honest with his youngest daughter, saying, “Keeping the truth from her will only cause more harm later. You’re letting your wife control the narrative. You need to protect your kids from her, not the truth.”
Some users suggested that the father should assure his children of his love and take time to figure out his next steps. Redditor Hanh2 reminded him, “Age shouldn’t dictate your choices. Don’t stay in a miserable marriage just because it’s been a long time.”
After reflecting on all the advice, the father realized he had built his life around his wife and their family. He decided to get second tests done to be absolutely sure and planned to eventually tell his youngest daughter the truth, though he wouldn’t force a paternity test on her. If his wife’s behavior didn’t change, he resolved to file for divorce.
In the end, he understood that his relationship with his children was what mattered most, regardless of biological connections. He knew he needed to focus on their well-being and make the best decisions for their future.
