“You’re not my father.” These words linger in the mind of a stepdad who has spent years trying to connect with his stepdaughter. Though he has always been there for her, offering support in every way, she has kept her distance. Now, faced with a financial request, he’s finally putting his foot down.

This is full story:

My wife passed away when my sons were 8 and 4. Years later, I remarried, and my current wife and I have now been together for 11 years. She had a daughter from her previous marriage. Her ex-husband is still alive, but he hasn’t been a part of their lives.

When we got married, my boys were 13 and 9, and my stepdaughter was 12. From the start, I did everything I could to build a bridge with her. I bought her gifts, supported her at school and extracurriculars, and tried to make sure she always had what she wanted. I drove her to school, paid for her private education, and worked tirelessly so that all three kids—my sons and her—could have a good life. My wife chose to be a housewife after leaving her job, so I carried the financial load.

I always treated her as my own, but despite my efforts, she never accepted me.

The breaking point came when she graduated high school about five years ago. My eldest son had invited my wife, his stepmom, to his graduation, but my stepdaughter refused to invite me to hers. She had two tickets and chose only her mother. When I asked why, she told me:

“You’re not my dad. You didn’t raise me, and I don’t want you in my life.”

That crushed me. Still, I continued to support her—I even paid for her college, just as I did for my sons.

Then, a few months ago, I learned from my wife that my stepdaughter was getting married. I hadn’t been told directly. Wanting to celebrate, I got balloons, a cake, and decorations for when she said she would come home. At the last minute, she canceled and told my wife to come to her apartment alone—without me or my sons.

I felt shattered. Later, I called to congratulate her, but she kept the conversation short. My only request was the honor of a father-daughter dance. She refused.

I said nothing more, but soon after, my wife told me her daughter needed money for the wedding. I thought long and hard, but the truth was clear—she had never accepted me as a father. So, I told my wife I would not be paying. I explained that if she wanted to contribute, she could use her savings, but I would not be funding the wedding.

My wife was furious. She said she had little money saved and called me selfish and cruel. Soon after, her family—my father-in-law, brother-in-law, and others—started calling, demanding I pay. The whole situation has torn our family apart.

But I keep coming back to one thing: she made it clear I was not her father. If I’m not her father in her eyes, why am I expected to pay as though I am?

Surce: brightside.me