Woman Told Her Daughter Her Father Had Died – Years Later, the Girl Discovered a Heartbreaking Truth

When Cassie returns from a getaway with her husband and son, she walks into her home to see a cryptic message from her mother — telling her to watch a video. As Cassie presses play, her entire life changes. In the end, she’s left wondering which of her parents are worthy of forgiveness.

In my eyes, my father could do no wrong. He was everything I needed him to be and more. He was a businessman who was always traveling, but he ensured that he made enough time for me.

“You’re my little girl, Cassie,” he would say, bopping my nose with his index finger. “You’re the most special.”

My parents always went out of their way for me — ensuring that despite their busy schedules, we would have family dinner almost every night.

It was the one thing that kept me grounded while both of my friends from school were in the middle of their parents’ messy divorces.

“I think it’s trendy now,” I told my mother as she cut slices of banana bread for me after school one day.

“Cas, you cannot think that divorce is trendy,” she laughed. “It’s devastating and traumatic, and very few families actually keep things civil.”

“I’m just saying that it’s trendy because a lot of kids live between two homes,” I explained to her. “It’s one of those things we were talking about in class today.”

I was fourteen, and the world seemed more dramatic than it should have been.

But what I didn’t know was that my words seemed to be an incantation that settled over our home.

A few weeks after that conversation, my father went away on a business trip. A few hours after he had been gone, there was news of his passing.

“How?” I asked. “How did he die?”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Cassie,” she replied. “I’m just saying what the paramedics told me.”

“So what will we do next?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled by the question.

“For the funeral?” I asked. “Aren’t we going to have one?”

“I don’t think so,” my mother replied. “Dad wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread at the beach. Let’s do that instead.”

I couldn’t fathom why my mother would want to do that — but at the end of the day, she knew my father best. And the longer I thought about it, the more beautiful and sentimental a private ceremony at the beach felt.

“Don’t be difficult, Cassie,” my mother said when she saw me thinking about my next move.

“I’m not,” I said. “Really. I was just thinking about it. It’s a great idea, Mom.”

I could have fought her for a send-off that I thought would have been more appropriate. But what use would it have been? At the end of the day, we had both lost him.

The months following the beach ceremony felt weighted, and I knew that I was becoming deeply depressed — my father had been our world. And his absence was felt more than anything.

But, with time, I learned to live with it.

Last week, I decided to book a cabin in the woods for a little family vacation. My son was adamant that camping was the new best thing, and I knew that despite the wonders of nature, I wasn’t going to camp in a tent without a bathroom in sight.

Instead, I thought that a cabin would be the best option — my husband, Derek, could camp outside with Drew, our son, if he insisted on it.

We had a dog, therefore, I asked my mother to house-sit for the week so that we could be at peace, knowing that Romeo was taken care of.

A week away was more than enough to restore my mind — and eventually, when we went back home, I was surprised to see that my mother wasn’t there. In fact, it looked like she had never been there.

But there, on the coffee table, was a note beneath the TV remote.

Watch this, Cassie. I’m sorry. — Mom

I didn’t know what was in store for me, but while Derek got Drew into the bath, I put the TV on and began to watch whatever my mother had planned.

The TV flickered to life, and there he was, my father, his voice a long-lost melody, his image aged but still, unmistakably him.

Tears streamed down my face as the realization that he was still alive enveloped me in a mix of joy and disbelief.

The video message was nothing short of unpredictable.

My dear Cassie, I’m still here, alive. I’m so sorry for the pain that you must have felt from my loss. But it was needed. I needed to be removed from your life because of the sordid truth of my past. Your mother knows everything, please ask her for the truth.

My health is on a steady decline, and I would love to see you and explain it all.

Love you, Dad.

Without telling Derek or Drew anything, I grabbed the car keys and ran out. I needed my mother to explain.

“So, I bet you’ve got questions for me,” she said, opening the door.

“Explain it all,” I said.

“Cassie, it’s heavy. You look tired from your trip; are you sure you want to do this now?” she asked.

I nodded. It was now or never. I needed to know why my father faked his own death to get out of our lives.

My mother made us some tea and took out some shortbread.

“Darling,” she said. “I’ll understand if you don’t forgive me, but there’s so much about that time that I need to tell you.”

I sipped my tea, trying to figure out what my mother was about to tell me.

“I remember that you were telling me about your friend’s parents getting divorced. Do you remember that?” she asked.

I nodded. Of course, I did. It was the strangest thing, but it was so common when I was in school.

“Well, your father and I were not legally married. So when I told him about our conversation regarding divorce, he was actually relieved. Without being married, there would be no divorce.”

“What’s the big deal?” I asked.

“Then I found out that the real reason that we didn’t get married was because your father was already married to another woman.”

“What?” I exclaimed, almost dropping my cup. “To who?”

“To a woman in the town where he always had his business trips.”

“You didn’t know?” I asked, unable to believe her words.

“Of course not!” she exclaimed. “But when I pressed him about it, he decided to choose that family over us. So, I told him that the story was going to be his death.”

We were both silent for a moment.

Turns out that my mother told him that she would never tell me the truth, not when he was my favorite person. She couldn’t burst my bubble in that way. And she refused to let him see me one more time.

“It was better for you to think that it was an accident,” my mother said. “It just made more sense.”

Now, I understood why we didn’t have a funeral for him.

“What did we throw into the sea, then?” I asked.

“Dust,” she replied with a straight face.

My mother had spoken to him twice over the years. The second time being a day ago.

During their meeting, my father confessed his imminent death due to illness and requested that she give me the recording. My mother, torn by guilt and love, chose to write me the note and have the recording all set for me to watch.

“I would have taken the secret to my grave,” she said. “But knowing that he was ill and wanted to see you just struck something in me.”

Compelled by a need to confront the reality of my father’s existence, I traveled to the state where he lived with his other family.

I spent a few weeks with my father — going in and out of hospitals, watching him take an array of different medication, and growing weaker by the day.

Sitting at his bedside, I listened to his stories, the regrets, the moments of joy, and the love he had for all his children — myself included.

When things started to go downhill, I asked Derek to fly over with Drew. It was going to be a fleeting moment, but at least I’d know that my son had met my father.

A few days later, my father died.

Even now, I don’t know if I’ve forgiven him for the lie of having a double life. I just know that when it came to it in the end — I wanted to spend time with him. I had shoved my feelings aside, hoping for memories that I could figure out later.

But now that the dust has settled, I’m trying to figure out if I should forgive my mother for lying.

What would you do?

Here’s another story for you | After Celine’s father dies, she is left with having to navigate the weight of her grief. Everywhere she turns, there are pieces of her father. On her many trips to the cemetery, she finds that there are always fresh flowers left.\

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

My Boss Humiliated Me at a Staff Meeting Because of My Pregnancy – His Smile Faded When a Woman Holding a Baby Walked In

Elena thought her life couldn’t get more complicated after her fiancé vanished upon learning she was pregnant. But when her boss humiliates her during a staff meeting, the truth about her child’s father comes crashing into the spotlight…

Three months ago, my life fell apart. I’m not even kidding.

I was 27, engaged to a man I thought I’d spend forever with, and blissfully unaware of how quickly dreams could shatter.

A woman sitting by a window | Source: Midjourney

The day I told Ethan I was pregnant, I’ll never forget how his face froze.

“Are you serious?” he asked, his voice low and sharp.

I nodded, trying to smile through my nerves.

A shocked man | Source: Midjourney

“We’re going to be parents…”

Instead of the joy I’d hoped for, he muttered something about needing time to think. And then he walked out the door.

Oh, and he never came back.

I didn’t tell anyone. Not my family, not my coworkers, nobody.

A man walking out of a house | Source: Midjourney

How could I?

My father was a powerful man, and he owned the company where I worked, with my sister Rebecca running another branch. She was married to Adam, my boss.

Everyone had high expectations for me, and my pregnancy. But the truth about the father felt like a ticking time bomb. I couldn’t risk it. So, I left my parents’ house and moved out on my own, hoping to hide the truth for as long as I could.

A man wearing a suit | Source: Midjourney

My father had given Rebecca and Adam control of his businesses, so he was more than happy to take my mother on lavish trips or spend his days playing golf.

But secrets have a way of surfacing, don’t they?

And today, mine became the punchline of a cruel joke.

A businesswoman | Source: Midjourney

I was standing in the middle of the conference room during an all-staff meeting when Adam, my boss, and brother-in-law, decided to turn my pregnancy into office entertainment.

“So, Elena,” he said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. “I hear congratulations are in order. You’re pregnant, huh? Guess you’re finally settling down! Very good, very good.”

A few people chuckled nervously. I felt heat rising to my face as every eye in the room turned to me.

A woman frowning | Source: Midjourney

“Guess now you probably have to find the dad, huh?” he added, slapping the table like he’d just made the biggest joke.

The laughter died quickly, but Adam wasn’t done.

“But even if you don’t, you don’t really have to worry, right? Single moms get decent benefits, right? Maybe I should give you a thousand-dollar raise a year! What do you think, folks?”

A smug businessman | Source: Midjourney

The room went silent. My chest felt tight as I clenched my fists, willing myself not to cry. Where had this version of Adam come from? He hadn’t been like this with me before. He used to be… different.

“The father of this baby told me that he loved me more than life itself,” I said, my voice trembling. “But as soon as he found out, he ran.”

Adam’s smirk widened.

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

“Ah, men. Typical, huh?”

I was seconds away from walking out when the double doors to the office burst open.

A young woman holding a baby strode in, tears streaming down her face. There was no way that she was older than twenty-two or twenty-three, but despite her tears and trembling hands, she stood tall.

Behind her came Rebecca, and my father.

A woman holding a baby | Source: Midjourney

I moved my coat so that it hung tighter around my waist. I wasn’t really showing yet, but I had no choice but to tell Adam about the baby. He was my boss after all…

“No one leave,” my father said, his voice sharp and commanding. “You all need to see and hear this conversation.”

Adam’s smug grin vanished instantly.

A stern man | Source: Midjourney

“Rebecca,” he stammered, his tone now meek. “What’s going on?”

“What’s going on, Adam,” Rebecca said, her voice icy. “Is that your horrible lies are finally catching up to you.”

I glanced at the woman with the baby, and my stomach twisted as recognition set in.

“Lila?” I whispered.

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

Lila was Rebecca’s former assistant. I’d met her a few times in the office and once at a family dinner. She had seemed quiet, almost shy and timid, but now she looked like someone who had been pushed to her breaking point.

Rebecca’s gaze turned to me, her expression unreadable.

“I know why Lila left her job. Just like I know why you left Mom and Dad’s house, Elena. Did you think that I wouldn’t find out? Did you think I’d believe that Ethan…”

An woman with her eyes closed in frustration | Source: Midjourney

My mouth went dry, and I thought I was going to pass out.

“I found your diary, Elena. When you left, you didn’t pack properly. But that’s nothing new when you had people doing everything for you. You left your diary right there, on your bedside. Adam is the father of your baby, isn’t he?”

Gasps rippled through the room. My knees felt weak.

A book on a bedside table | Source: Midjourney

But still, Rebecca wasn’t finished.

“And,” she continued, her voice trembling with anger. “Adam is the father of her baby too.”

She pointed at Lila, who stepped forward, holding the baby closer to her chest.

Adam’s face turned a sickly shade of gray.

“Rebecca… I… I can explain!”

A woman holding her baby | Source: Midjourney

“Don’t,” she snapped. “You’ve lied to me for years. You’ve humiliated me, betrayed me, and destroyed my trust. We’re done, Adam. You’re dead to me.”

My father stepped forward then, his expression cold and menacing.

“I’ve heard enough of this nonsense,” he said. “Adam, you’re fired. Effective immediately. Pack your things and leave.”

A shocked man | Source: Midjourney

Adam opened his mouth to protest, but my father cut him off.

“And,” he added. “You’ll be paying child support for both of these children. I’ll make damn sure of it.”

The office emptied quickly after that, whispers trailing behind the stunned employees.

I stayed behind, unsure of what to do or say, until my father approached me.

An empty boardroom | Source: Midjourney

“Elena,” he said softly, his voice losing its sharp edge. “Why didn’t you come to me?”

Tears welled in my eyes as I looked down at the floor.

“I didn’t want to ruin Rebecca’s life,” I admitted. “And I was afraid of how you’d look at me if you knew the truth.”

He sighed, shaking his head.

A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney

“This isn’t your fault, baby girl,” he said. “Adam manipulated you, just like he manipulated everyone else. You’re my daughter, Elena, and I’ll always support you.”

I didn’t know what to say. Or do. Or feel.

Rebecca approached then, her face red but her eyes resolute. For a moment, I thought she might slap me or pull my hair. Instead, she pulled me into a hug.

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

“I’m furious, El,” she said, her voice trembling. “But not at you. Adam’s the one who destroyed our marriage, not you. We’ll figure this out together.”

Her words broke something in me, and I finally let the tears fall.

“Bec, it was a mistake. It was just one drunken night at the Christmas party, and if I’m being really honest with you… I didn’t know what happened. Or how. I tried to spin it off as Ethan’s baby, and he ran.”

A woman wearing a red dress | Source: Midjourney

“I’m here for you,” she said. “I’m going to take this man for everything he’s worth. And then, we’ll raise your baby together. If you want… I mean.”

A week later, my phone rang.

“Elena,” my father said on the other end. “I need someone I can trust to step into Adam’s role. You’ve been with the company for five years, and you know the team better than anyone. You’re done with your studies now. Will you take over s interim director? At least until the baby is born?”

A man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

My breath caught.

Was my father really accepting this? Was he going to truly support me? Support us?

“Are you sure, Dad?” I asked.

“Completely,” he replied. “I trust you, darling. But take some time to think about it. Just remember that I’ll need an answer soon.”

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

The answer, of course, was yes.

It hadn’t been easy stepping into Adam’s shoes, but every day I walked into that office, I held my head a little higher. And do you know what’s the best part?

My child will grow up knowing their mother didn’t back down, even when the odds were stacked against her.

And her family truly came through for her.

A woman sitting in an office | Source: Midjourney

As for Adam?

He’s history. Both in the office and in our lives.

And Rebecca? We’re rebuilding our relationship, slowly but surely. She’ll never forgive Adam, but she’s learning to forgive me.

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

Life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan, but sometimes, when the dust settles, you realize you’re stronger than you ever imagined.

As for Ethan, who knows what happened to him? I don’t. Anyway, my baby is on the way soon, and I’m going to embrace motherhood as a single parent who loves her baby unconditionally.