“If you choose to go through with this, you will no longer be my daughter.” Those were the last words my father said to me three years ago before ending our relationship. I never expected to hear from him again—until his black car showed up at my door.
I never anticipated life would take this turn. Three years ago, I discovered I was pregnant. I had been seeing Justin, a reserved carpenter whom I loved for his gentleness. But my father—proud, affluent, and controlling—would never have approved. When I told him, he didn’t raise his voice. He simply stared at me and said, “If you choose to go through with this, you are no longer my daughter.”
His words were painful. My father had raised me by himself after my mother passed away, but his love always had conditions. When I chose Justin and our child over his approval, he cut me off completely. Then, I found out I was expecting triplets.
For three years, I didn’t hear anything—until one evening, my phone rang. “I’ve heard you have children,” he said in a cold tone. Then, he added, “I’ll be there tomorrow. THIS IS YOUR FINAL CHANCE TO COME BACK TO ME. YOU AND THE CHILDREN CAN HAVE THE LIFE YOU DESERVE. BUT IF YOU TURN ME DOWN, DON’T EXPECT ME TO REACH OUT AGAIN.”
The following day, he showed up in his sharp suit, acting as though everything was the same. As he walked around the house, he suddenly shouted, “What have you done?!”
His voice cracked, and his despair was unmistakable. “You’re not struggling!”
I was taken aback. “No, we’re not. We’ve built a fulfilling life here.”
He stared at me intensely. “You could’ve had more. You still can. Come with me, Lily. Take the children. I can offer them opportunities you’ll never be able to.”
I held my ground. “They already have everything they need: love, stability, and parents who have worked hard to provide for them. We don’t need anything more.”
My father’s expression became steely. “You’ll regret this,” he said coldly. Without another word, he turned and stormed out.
He wasn’t angry. He seemed… broken.
“What’s going on with him?” Justin asked softly.
“I’m not sure,” I whispered.
Finally, after hours of waiting, my father stepped out of the car. He approached the door and hesitated, his hand hovering before finally knocking. His face was streaked with tears, his eyes raw and puffy.
“I was wrong,” he said, his voice shaky. “I thought I was doing what’s best for you, but all I did was push you away.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the tears welling up. “Dad…”
“I thought you were ruining your life,” he continued, his voice breaking. “But I was blind. You’ve created something beautiful, something I should have been proud of all along.”
And then, he broke down. Without thinking, I reached out and pulled him into an embrace.
“I missed you,” I whispered.
For the first time in years, we talked. He apologized—again and again—for his pride, his mistakes, and the years we’d lost. And I forgave him.
As the triplets toddled in, giggling and curious, he knelt down, his eyes wide in awe. “Hey there,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“Grandpa?” one of them asked, and he nodded, tears streaming down his face.
“Yes,” he said, choking on his sobs, smiling through the tears. “Grandpa’s here now.”