Dad Is Stunned to Learn His Teen Daughter Gets Pricey Gifts from Adult Stranger — Story of the Day

A concerned father's heart races when he discovers a hidden stash of expensive gifts in his vulnerable 14-year-old daughter's closet. He then finds a photo of an unknown older man with a note detailing their secret meeting at a local café.

Bobby, 45, had always been a doting father to his 14-year-old daughter, Mia. He often checked in on his girl regularly, making sure she was doing well. But for the past three months, he had noticed a strange change in Mia's behavior that extremely worried him.

She had been acting distant and no longer shared anything with him. Her late-night phone calls, closed-door conversations, and the smell of cigarette smoke that lingered in her room fueled Bobby's suspicions that Mia was up to something.

Suspicious, Bobby snooped into Mia's room to find traces of cigarettes or a lighter. As he rummaged through her things, his eyes landed on a mysterious gift box hidden under a pile of clothes in her cupboard…

Bobby's curiosity got the better of him, and with fumbling hands, he untied the orange satin ribbon. Inside the box was an assortment of expensive gifts like branded perfumes, a smartwatch Mia had long wanted, and a diamond bracelet. As Bobby examined each item, a sense of unease grew stronger.

But nothing left the father reeling than the photograph of an unknown older man, likely in his 50s, and a letter detailing an upcoming meeting at a local café that day. It was signed with an initial of a name Bobby didn't recognize.

The dad couldn't believe his eyes, and his heart sank as he read the words:

"My dear Mia, I can't stop thinking about you.

This is for being so lovely & beautiful. I'm really excited about finally meeting you. It fills me with so much joy you can't even imagine & all I want to do is be with you.

I can't wait to see you soon. Looking forward to our meeting on Saturday.

I'm already picturing us...talking, laughing, sitting next to each other. God, I hope this café we're meeting at serves a vegan menu. Or else a poor vegan like me is going to have to starve. But who cares about food when I'm getting to be with you?

See you soon :) Love Forever, V."

Bobby's hands trembled with fury as he muttered under his breath, "Who is this guy? What the hell is going on?"

Bobby's grip tightened on the letter as he read it again and again, his mind burning with questions. He couldn't believe his teen daughter was involved in a secret relationship with a man her dad's age.

"You better have an explanation, Mia," Bobby frantically muttered to himself, thinking of his only daughter. "Why have you been accepting expensive gifts from this man?" Bobby lifted the stranger's picture off the bed and stared at it another time, trying to remember if he knew the guy. But Bobby hadn't seen him anywhere.

"A vegan place, huh?" he scowled, his temper aggravating at seeing the initial "V" scribbled at the back of the photo. Bobby's mind raced, wondering how long this had been going on, and felt the urge to confront Mia.

Bobby's anger boiled over as he stormed out of his daughter's room and rang her. "Dad! What do you want? I told you I can't talk in the middle of music class, didn't I? Talk to you later..." she angrily hung up before Bobby questioned her.

He froze in shock for a few seconds, the weight of the situation hitting him hard, as he redialed her number, but Mia didn't bother to answer.

Bobby put the things back in her room. He knew she would be mad at him if she ever happened to find out he had snooped into her room and dug into her things. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself before leaving.

"What did I do to deserve this?" Bobby slumped into the couch as he recounted his findings in Mia's room. He then took his phone and frantically searched for all the vegan cafés in his town online.

"There's only one vegan café on Oakmont Lane...Were they planning to meet there today? I should find out what's going on before it's too late," he mumbled and sprang into action.

Disguised in a cap and hoodie, Bobby immediately drove to Café Bean, the only meat-free diner in the town.

Upon reaching, he scanned the café for any sign of Mia or her friend. To his relief, he spotted her sitting alone by the window, fidgeting with her phone. Bobby nervously watched his daughter from a corner table, awaiting the mystery man from the photograph.

Each time Mia's phone buzzed, a big, glossy smile danced on her lips, and Bobby couldn't decipher what was causing her so much joy.

As he watched her beam with excitement, he couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia.

Gone were the days when Mia would laugh and joke around him like she used to. It was as if she had become a different person, someone he didn't know at all, particularly after they visited the hospital three months ago for a routine check-up.

Bobby and his family were at the doctor's office that day, awaiting their reports, when he was called to the reception to fill out a form. As Bobby stepped out of the doctor's office, a new doctor came in with some papers.

"Mrs. Davis, we found some concerning results in Mia's test." the doctor said, showing her the papers. "Can we please talk in private?" But Mrs. Davis insisted Mia stay.

"Alright…Does your daughter have any hereditary diseases?" she asked Mrs. Davis, taking a curious look at the papers. "Has your family taken a blood test before...I mean, the three of you, especially Mr. Davis and Mia?"

Mrs. Davis's heart skipped a beat at the mention of a blood test, and she exchanged worried glances with her daughter. "No, doctor," she spoke. "We just go for a routine check-up every year. Her father is very particular about our health. This is our first blood examination together. Is something wrong?"

"I see," the doctor's brows raised as she studied the reports again. "I see that your daughter's blood group doesn't match your husband's, Mrs. Davis. Are you aware of this? Is Mr. Davis not Mia's—?"

Mrs. Davis felt a lump in her throat and looked at the doctor, unsure of how to respond. Her face drained of blood as her eyes darted from the doctor to Mia, who was surprised. "Wha—What do you mean my blood group doesn't match my Dad's?" she stammered.

The doctor hesitated for a moment before the bombshell revelation. "Well, your father's blood type is such that... it's highly unlikely that he's your birth father. That's what the blood test report indicates. Your blood group doesn't match his at all."

Mia's eyes bulged in shock as she turned to her mother. "Mom, what is she saying? What's going on? Dad's not my real dad?" she whispered.

"Hush! Not now, please! We'll talk about this later," Mrs. Davis hushed Mia, pleading for her silence. Just as the tension hung in the air, Bobby burst into the room, unaware of the secret conversation that took place.

Bobby's face lit up, thinking everything was okay, but the strange looks he got from his wife and daughter told him otherwise. "Everything alright?" he asked.

"Yes…Yes, all good, honey. And I'm glad everything's fine with the reports, doctor. Thanks again!" Mrs. Davis squared her shoulders and quickly changed the topic to avoid any suspicion.

The doctor smirked, and understanding the gravity of the situation, she played along. "Everything looks good here, Mr. and Mrs. Davis. Take care," she said, smiling at Bobby.

The family left the doctor's office, and as Bobby headed to the car, Mia turned to her mother. Her mind was racing with questions, and she didn't know how to make sense of it all.

"What was that all about, Mom? Is Dad not my birth father? Tell me...what's going on? Why did the doctor say that? How's that my blood doesn't match Dad's?" she grabbed her mother by the arm and whispered.

Mrs. Davis hesitated, and she could feel the temperature rising. "It's complicated. I'll explain everything later when we get home. But please...do not ask anything in front of your father. It's better if we discuss this privately."

Tension hung in the air as Mia rolled her eyes and sat in the backseat, her head pressed on the window as she stared at her mother's worried expression in the rearview mirror.

"Mom, we're home. What's going on? What did the doctor mean by that? I need to know the truth NOW," Mia demanded as she grabbed Mrs. Davis's hand and made big eyes. "I'll be waiting for you in my room."

Mia sat in her room, staring blankly at the wall when her mother entered. "Sweetie, we need to talk," uttered Mrs. Davis, her voice barely above a whisper as she slammed the door shut behind her. Mia looked up at her mother, her eyes red and puffy.

"I'm so sorry, Mia...The doctor was right," Mrs. Davis said, tears welling in her eyes as she placed her hand on Mia's shoulder. "Bobby isn't your real father. When your Dad was on a business trip to Cape Town, I met someone on a cruise in Virginia. We had a small fling. When I learned I was pregnant with his child, I was too afraid to tell your Dad I cheated. I loved Bobby and knew he loved you like his daughter. I didn't want to hurt either of you by telling the truth. What happened on that cruise was an accident."

Mia's jaw dropped as she listened to her mother's confession. "What the hell, Mom? How could you do this? How could you keep this terrible secret from me all these years? Why didn't you tell me before?" she retorted. "Who's my real father?"

But Mrs. Davis refused to reveal her affair partner's identity until Mia threatened to have a word with Bobby. "I have a right to know who my biological father is, Mom. I can't keep living a lie and pretending everything is okay, alright? If you don't tell me who my real father is now, I'll reveal the truth to Dad…I mean…Bobby."

Mrs. Davis looked at her, "Okay. Fine. His name is Victor…" she whispered the man's full name. "But you have to promise me you won't tell anyone, especially not Bobby. If he finds out, it could tear our family apart."

"Mom, can you tell me more about him? Where is he from? I want to know everything," Mia pressed her mother.

Mrs. Davis shook her head as she turned to face Mia, her eyes filled with guilt. "No, I don't know much. We never met again after the cruise. And please, don't ask me anything about him again."

Mia nodded, tears brimming in her eyes, as Mrs. Davis sighed a deep breath and stormed out of her room, the sound of her heavy footsteps echoing in the hallway.

"How could Mom do this to me? What more has she been keeping from me all these years?" Mia thought, frustration and anger etched on her face.

She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. "I won't let Mom's secrecy hold me back," she said firmly. "I'm going to find out more about my biological dad, even if I have to go behind Mom's back," she muttered as she turned on her laptop.

Mia's eyes were bloodshot and stingy, but she couldn't bring herself to stop searching for any hint about her birth dad online. She combed through countless social media profiles as the night wore on, desperate to find her biological father.

Her heart raced as she stumbled onto a profile, her eyes scanning the details over and over again. The name, the age, the location—everything matched with what her mother had told her. "Is he my biological father?" Mia's eyes widened as she whispered.

Her fingers trembled as she typed, "Hi, I'm Mia. I know this is gonna sound crazy. But I believe I might be your daughter. You met my Mom at Island Temptations on a cruise in Virginia around 15 years back. Can we talk?" and pressed the send button.

She waited anxiously, staring at the screen, hoping for a response. Finally, a notification popped up, and her heart skipped a beat as she opened the message from the man.

"What? I'm sorry. I don't know what you're talking about. I guess you must have got the wrong profile," read the reply.

Mia's heart started pounding as she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves before typing out her response. "No, I'm sure it is you, Dad. My Mom, Esther, told me that you're my biological father. I know this must come as a shock to you. But I know some information that only you and my Mom know. I can share with you if you want."

There was a long pause, and minutes later, another notification popped that made Mia's eyes water.

"I don't know what to say! Yeah, I met Esther on a cruise. She was an amazing woman. We never met or contacted each other again after the cruise. I'm now married to my gay partner. We've been together for 7 years now. We don't have any children & I'm so surprised I have a daughter. This is so unexpected. Really! Thank you for reaching out, Mia. I'm so happy to hear from you. Can we talk more? Maybe we can meet. I would love that! What do you think?"

Mia and her biological father, Victor, spent the night exchanging message after message, getting to know each other. With each passing day, she started spending more time with him on video chats and was thrilled when he told her he would be passing through her town soon and would love to meet her.

"Hey, but before that, I have a little gift for you. I'm sure you'll love it, darling!" he told her on a video call.

A few days later, just a week before the planned meeting, Mia received a parcel. It was a gift box with an expensive watch, her favorite perfumes, a diamond bracelet, and a note with a picture of Victor.

She was touched and feeling a little emotional, she hid the gift box in her cupboard after seeing her Dad's picture over and over again. She couldn't wait to meet him in person that weekend.

Mia's phone buzzed loudly, snapping her to the moment. "I just got into a taxi at the airport. Send me the location of the café, darling," read the message.

"Don't be late. I'm already waiting for you at Café Bean. I came in a bit early. I can't wait to see you! Sending you the location. Love You :)" she replied, her eyes darting across the entrance.

Bobby, who was watching everything keenly from the corner table, was ready to spring into action when he saw an older stranger approaching Mia's table half an hour later. Bobby clenched his teeth and fists as he watched Mia and the man hug. They sat down and held hands, engrossed in conversation, and Bobby could no longer hold himself back.

"WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON HERE??" The sound of Bobby's voice startled Mia and Victor, causing them to pull away from each other. Bobby marched towards the table, his eyes fixed on Mia. "Mia! Who is this guy? You better start explaining!" he demanded, his tone angry and eyes blazing with rage.

"Dad? What are you doing here? Wait...Were you following me?" Mia rose angrily. But before she could process what was happening, Bobby ignored her questions and threw a punch that landed on Victor's jaw, breaking his teeth.

Victor toppled over the table, wincing in pain, the sound of shattering glass and startled screams filling the café as Bobby pounced on him and beat him up.

"Dad...stop...Dad! What are you doing! Are you out of your mind? STOP!" Mia shrieked, but Bobby was uncontrollable.

"You stay away from my daughter, you pedophile!" Bobby yelled, grabbing Victor by the collar. "You're a sicko. Finding someone half your age to fool around with, huh, bastard? How dare you flirt with my girl?"

"Dad, stop! Please, let him go! It's not what you think. Please, let him go," Mia pleaded. "Somebody, please help…Call an ambulance. Please, he's bleeding."

But Bobby had entered a place too dark with rage to listen, and there was no coming back. He planted another hard blow on Victor's nose, causing him black out. The other customers in the café struggled to separate Bobby further away from a bleeding and unconscious Victor.

"Oh my God...What did you do? Dad, No! Dad...wake up...DAD?!" Mia screamed. Bobby froze in disbelief when he saw Mia cradling Victor's head on her lap and struggled to make sense when he heard her address Victor as 'Dad.'

"DAD? Did you just call him Dad? Mia, what's going on? Why are you calling him that?" Bobby gasped as the paramedics arrived and loaded Victor onto the stretcher.

"Mia, come back...Mia..." he ran after the ambulance and stopped in his tracks when he saw the police cruiser approaching.

"Sir, we need you to come with us," an officer approached Bobby with handcuffs.

A couple of hours later, the doctor entered Victor's ward. "His condition is stable now...Nothing to worry about," he told Mrs. Davis and Mia as they rose from Victor's bedside.

"Hello, Victor," Bobby burst into the ward, breaking the grave silence. Following his arrest, Bobby was taken to the hospital to check his bloodied hands for any injuries. When he learned Victor was also admitted there, he begged the Sheriff to let him into Victor's ward for a minute.

"I'm sorry about everything, Victor. My wife told me everything at the station. I'm really very sorry. I misunderstood that you and my daughter were actually…you know. I love my daughter more than anything in the world. It would be any father's fear when he finds expensive gifts in his teen daughter's cupboard and sees her holding hands with a stranger. I just did what any father would do."

Victor nodded slowly, his face exposing the purplish bruises and a swollen nose from the beating. "I understand..." he whispered through his missing front teeth, his voice strained with pain.

Mrs. Davis turned around to face Bobby, her eyes filled with guilt and disappointment. "Oh my God, Bobby…I've never seen you like this before...I didn't know you were capable of this," she shook her head.

"Well, even I didn't know that you were capable of this, Esther...But it's over between us now. You'll never see me again," Bobby sadly lowered his head.

As he made his way out of the ward, he glanced back at his daughter.

"Forgive me too, Mia...I hope this will not affect our relationship. No matter what happens or who comes our way...I still love you. I always will. My doors are always open for you," he said, his voice laced with agony as he walked away with the Sheriff.

Mrs. Davis and Mia sat back in the room, watching Bobby's silhouette disappear out of sight. Sadness and regret cloaked their eyes as they realized they had caused irreparable damage to their family.

What can we learn from this story?

• The truth may be painful. But it is better than living with a lie. Bobby was a devoted dad who loved his daughter Mia to the core. His world was shattered when he found secret expensive gifts in her cupboard. Eventually, he spotted Mia with an adult stranger and discovered that guy was her biological father.
• Gratitude opens the door to abundance. Do not chase what you do not have and lose something dear that you already have. Mrs. Davis cheated on her husband and conceived with her affair partner's child. On the other hand, Mia sought a connection with her biological father when she learned Bobby was not her birth father. Ultimately, Mrs. Davis and Mia's relationship with Bobby, the man who stood by their side and loved them unconditionally, broke forever.

Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

A dad is unsettled when he learns his teen daughter has skipped school, and his worst fears are confirmed when he finds wads of cash in her backpack. The curious father plots a way to unravel the mystery, unprepared for what else was in store. Click here to read the full story.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.