A frustrated teenager, who had a strained relationship with their father, took to Reddit to reveal their dad’s infidelity.
Suspicion and Discovery
The child’s suspicions grew after noticing their father acting strangely. One evening, the father came home late, carrying a peculiar scent. Within days, the teen unearthed a shocking secret.
Seeking Validation on Reddit
A 16-year-old turned to Reddit to ask if they were wrong for exposing their cheating father to the family. Before diving into the story, the teen described their distant relationship with their dad. Due to his demanding job, their father was rarely home, often away on business trips. Consequently, the teen and their siblings were primarily raised by their mother, fostering a close bond with her.
The teen shared, “Siblings and I were basically raised only by my Mom, and I’m really close with her.” The strained relationship with their father worsened as he often criticized the teen’s academic performance.
The Moment of Truth
Initially, the teen didn’t suspect anything when their father’s behavior changed. However, at 16, the teen discovered the truth.
Recalling the incident, the Redditor said, “I remember a few months ago, he came home super late, and I could smell a little perfume on him.” Although the teen didn’t act immediately, the mystery soon unraveled.
A few days later, the father left his phone unattended. The teen saw a message that read, “Last night was amazing. Can’t wait to see you again,” confirming their suspicions.
The Dilemma and Confrontation
Torn between confronting their father or informing their siblings, the teen chose to tell their mother. Although she became emotional, she assured the teen she would handle it.
However, the situation escalated at a family dinner shortly after. During the meal, a cousin’s job discussion prompted the father to criticize the teen publicly. The Redditor recalled, “My Dad took the opportunity to call me out and say I should follow after my cousin and focus more in school.”
Remaining silent initially, the teen snapped when an uncle commented on the difficulty of communicating with teens. The father agreed, criticizing the teen’s respect towards him. In a moment of frustration, the teen blurted out, “Hard to respect you when you openly cheat on Mom and don’t even try to hide it.”
Fallout
The revelation stunned everyone. Instead of scolding his child, the father argued with his wife, blaming her for their child’s behavior. The argument escalated, requiring other family members to intervene. The mother then left with her children, instructing the father not to come home.
Aftermath and Reflection
Back home, the teen’s phone was flooded with messages from relatives blaming them for the marital breakdown. Feeling guilty, the teen apologized to their mother, who reassured them but suggested a private conversation with the father would have been better. Despite numerous calls from the father, the teen chose not to respond.
Reddit’s Verdict
Seeking opinions, the teen asked Reddit users if they were at fault. One user commented, “NTA. It’s a bit awkward to do it over dinner, but if I were a teenager and my dad was insulting my entire person like that, I think I would snap thirty seconds before you did.”
The consensus was clear: the teen was not to blame. Another user pointed out that the father and extended family bore responsibility for the fallout, adding, “I also highly doubt your extended family would have played defense if your mum was the one cheating.”
