Young Man's Chance Interaction With His Absentee Dad And His New Family Unravels His Father's Decades-Worth Of Lies

The bio-dad hid his son's existence from his new wife and family

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• July 30, 2023

There is no certainty about how our actions ripple out and affect lives. The simple act of greeting someone can lead to bigger things beyond what we can imagine.

For 20 years, a Redditor lived an everyday life without his biological father. Their chance encounter at a mall forever altered their lives.

The OP was five or six years old when his father left him and his mom. They never saw his dad again.

His mother eventually got married to OP's wonderful stepfather. Thanks to his stepfather, OP didn't feel too deeply about his biological father's absence.

OP is not entirely cut off from his paternal side of the family. His paternal grandmother chose to be in OP's life and even lives near his mom's house.

His grandmother has no news about OP's bio-dad because they haven't spoken in years. OP did see his father unexpectedly.

His bio-dad was one of the speakers at a conference held at OP's university. It didn't immediately click to OP that the speaker was his bio-dad.

He was just suspicious that they had the same name. OP confirmed he was his father after seeing him and realizing how eerily similar they looked.

OP didn't speak to him because the security team didn't allow contact with the conference speakers. OP saw his bio-dad again unexpectedly months later at the mall.

OP was with his girlfriend when they saw his bio-dad with a woman and a teenager

OP hesitated to approach them but his girlfriend encouraged him

OP walked up to his bio-dad and asked him to confirm his name. He then introduced himself as his son. His dad denied having another son.

OP was hurt, so he showed him his driver's license to prove they shared the same name. OP realized that his father's wife had no clue that he existed. His dad refused to even look at him and just left with his new family trailing behind him.

OP got an update from his grandmother after some time. Apparently, his dad's wife has been trying to contact OP and his mom. His bio-dad is doing everything to prevent that and even broke his wife's phone.

His bio-dad's wife is now staying with OP's grandma. OP feels guilty for how things panned out. On the other hand, he's glad that his mom is finally getting closure with the help of his bio-dad's wife.

All of this mess was caused by one person and that person isn't OP

OP shouldn't allow his dad to dump this guilt on him

If anything, OP saved another woman from being duped by an unworthy man

Besides, how was OP supposed to know that his bio-dad still has the integrity of a candy floss two decades later?

Right now, his anger is misdirected because he thought he got away from his lies

OP's undeniable existence reminds his dad of the kind of person he used to be and still is

OP needs to constantly remind himself that his father's actions aren't his fault.

His father's lies simply caught up to him

His father would still be living a good life if he wasn't such a terrible person. His reaction should help OP know exactly the kind of person his father is.

His behavior is enough proof that he never deserved to be a part of OP's life. OP should try to concentrate on the closure this chance interaction brings for him and his mom.

Chelsi