My Father Remarried, Called Me Back Quickly… And When I Saw That Woman With Her Pregnant Belly, I Cried And Turned Away

I am Nathan, a third-year college student in California. Since my mother passed away 5 years ago, my father has lived alone in his hometown in a small town outside Sacramento. I thought he would always be lonely, never remarry.

Then one late afternoon, the phone rang.

“Nathan, come back this weekend, I have something important to say.” – my father’s voice was deep and decisive.

I was restless. Something important? My father was a man of few words, rarely calling other than to ask a few questions. That whole night, I couldn’t sleep.

A Shocking and Painful Encounter

On Saturday morning, I caught the bus back to my hometown. The familiar road, the trees and the red brick roofs suddenly became unfamiliar. I quickly stepped into the yard, the wooden door opened…

My father stood there. Next to me was a woman. I was momentarily bewildered, then my eyes slid down… her big round belly seemed to be hiding an undeniable secret. My heart was pounding, my voice stuttering:
– “No… it can’t be…”

The woman looked up. And I was stunned. It was Laura – my old high school classmate. Laura – the girl I had secretly loved all through high school, but had never once dared to confess.

I felt torn apart. My father stepped forward, his voice faltering:
– “I… let me explain…”

But I couldn’t listen. Tears welled up, I turned around and ran away, ignoring my father’s heartbreaking call from behind…
Running Back to the Past

I ran straight to the small riverbank – where I used to sit fishing with my mother in my childhood, and fly kites in the cool afternoon breeze. I collapsed, holding my head, and screamed in despair. Why was it Laura? The girl of my youth was now standing next to my father, carrying his blood in her.

Late in the afternoon, my father found me. He sat down next to me and sighed:
– “Nathan, I know you’re shocked. But I don’t want to hide it from you. I’m old, I’ve lived alone for many years. I met Laura by chance, we both depended on each other. Laura loved me… and I also loved you.”

I jumped up, stared at him, choked:
– “But do you know… I used to love her? I used to consider her my whole youth! Now she’s my wife… do you understand how I feel?!”

My father’s eyes were red, his voice was trembling but firm:
– “I don’t know. If I knew… I might have thought differently. But Nathan, you have to understand… youthful feelings are just memories. Right now, Laura and the baby need a home.”

I laughed bitterly. His words were like a knife piercing deep into my heart.

A Conversation With Laura

The next day, Laura came to see me. Her eyes hesitated, her voice trembling:
– “Nathan… I’m sorry. I know you had feelings for me in the past, but we were both too young. I also loved you, but I never thought we would be together. Life pushed me… in the end I ended up with your father. I don’t want to hurt you.”

I clenched my hands, my voice choked:
– “You said you didn’t want to, but you chose my father. Do you know how painful that was?”

Laura burst into tears, hugging her pregnant belly as if to protect the child. Looking at that scene, I felt both hatred and pity, anger and helplessness.

Mother’s Words in the Past

That night, I opened the old drawer where my mother kept the letter. The familiar handwriting appeared:
“Nathan, I just hope you live a good life, know how to love others and cherish your family. If one day your father remarries, please forgive him, don’t leave him alone.”

My tears fell on the page of the letter. My heart felt both broken and comforted.

Wedding Day

The wedding day took place at the small church in the town. I stood outside the gate, looking at my father in a simple suit, and Laura in a white wedding dress, gently rubbing her pregnant belly. My heart was in turmoil. I wanted to rush in and shout: “No!” But my feet felt like they were nailed to the ground.

In the end, I only left an envelope:
“I can’t bless you, but I can’t hate you either. I’m leaving, I hope you’re happy.”

I turned and walked away. The sound of wedding bells and music echoed behind me, each step I took felt like I was stepping on my own heart.

My youth, my family – everything shattered in that moment