A DNA Test Led Me to My Brother, and He Remembers the past I Never Lived

A DNA test was all it took to turn my world upside down. I remember staring at my computer screen, trying to make sense of the results. My mind said they were erroneous, but my heart… my heart instantly knew life wouldn’t be the same anymore.

I’m Billy, and up until a few days ago, I thought I was living the dream. I’m an only child, and my parents have always showered me with love and attention. They’ve given me everything I could ever want or need.

A boy standing in his house | Source: Midjourney

A boy standing in his house | Source: Midjourney

Just last week, my dad surprised me with the latest gaming console for no reason at all.

“What’s this for?” I asked, my eyes wide with excitement.

He just shrugged and smiled. “Do I need a reason to spoil my favorite son?”

“Your only son, you mean,” Mom grinned.

“All the more reason to spoil him!” Dad laughed, ruffling my hair.

That’s how it’s always been. Just the three of us living a perfect life. Perfect until I stumbled across a life-changing fact.

A young man sitting in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney

A young man sitting in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney

It all started the day I turned 18. I had decided to treat myself to one of those ancestry DNA tests. You know, the ones that tell you if you’re 2% Viking or whatever. I was just curious, nothing more. I never expected it to change my life.

I was literally jumping up and down the day the results came in. I kept refreshing my email every few minutes, waiting for that notification.

A person using a laptop | Source: Pexels

A person using a laptop | Source: Pexels

“Billy, honey, you’re going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep jumping like that,” Mom called from the kitchen.

“Sorry, Mom! I’m just really excited about my DNA results!”

Finally, the email arrived.

I could feel my heart pounding as I clicked on it. I was so excited, unaware that what I’d see next would change my life forever.

There, in black and white, was a notification of a close match. A brother. Daniel.

An upset young man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

An upset young man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and looked again. It had to be a mistake! Right? I’m an only child. I’ve always been an only child.

In a daze, I picked up my phone and dialed the company’s helpline. Maybe there was some mix-up.

“Hello, how can I assist you today?” a cheerful voice answered.

“Hi, um, I just got my results and, uh, I think there might be a mistake?” I said, unsure if I was doing the right thing.

A young man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A young man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“I can assure you, sir, our tests are 100% accurate. We double-check all results before sending them out.”

“Oh, alright,” I said. “Th-thank you.”

I hung up and looked at the results again. This couldn’t be happening. How could I have a brother I didn’t know about?

I needed answers, and I knew just who to ask.

That night, I waited up for Dad to get home from work. I rushed downstairs immediately I heard his car pull into the driveway.

A car driving on a street | Source: Pexels

A car driving on a street | Source: Pexels

I allowed him to enter the living room before I followed him inside.

“Hey, Dad? Can we talk for a sec?”

He looked up with a smile on his face. “Sure, kiddo. What’s on your mind?”

“So, uh, remember that DNA test I took?” I said, fidgeting with my shirt.

He nodded.

“Well, I got the results today and…” I paused, not sure how to continue. “Dad, do you know someone named Daniel?”

A young man talking to his father | Source: Midjourney

A young man talking to his father | Source: Midjourney

That was the point I knew something was not right. The look on Dad’s face changed in an instant. His eyes widened, and all the color drained from his cheeks.

“Where did you hear that name?” he asked, looking around to ensure Mom wasn’t around.

I told him about the test results. As I spoke, I watched his expressions change. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then said something I wasn’t expecting.

A man sitting in his living room | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting in his living room | Source: Midjourney

“Listen,” he said in a low voice, “don’t tell your mom about this, alright? She doesn’t know. I had an affair years ago. If she finds out, she’ll leave.”

I nodded, promising not to say anything. But as I returned to my room, something didn’t sit right.

Dad’s reaction seemed off. It was like there was more to the story than he was letting on.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I kept staring at the test results, wondering what to do next.

Should I… should I text him? I thought.

A young boy looking straight ahead, thinking | Source: Midjourney

A young boy looking straight ahead, thinking | Source: Midjourney

Texting him meant I’d be going against my dad. But I couldn’t think of another way to find out the truth.

So, I immediately clicked on his profile and reached out to him.

To my surprise, he responded within half an hour.

Billy? Is it really you? I can’t believe it!

We exchanged a few messages, and before I knew it, we’d agreed to meet at a café the next day.

Was I doing the right thing by going behind my dad’s back?

A young man looking outside his window | Source: Midjourney

A young man looking outside his window | Source: Midjourney

The next morning, I told Mom I was going out with my best friend and walked to the café. I didn’t have to do much to recognize Daniel. I immediately spotted him, and it felt like I was looking in a mirror.

He looked SO MUCH like me.

“Billy?” he asked, standing up.

I nodded, unable to speak. We sat down, and neither of us knew what to say.

Finally, Daniel broke the silence.

“You remember the lake by our old house?” he asked, smiling. “We’d swing on that old, rusty swing set and throw rocks into the water.”

A close-up shot of a young man | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a young man | Source: Midjourney

“No, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I shook my head. “We never lived together.”

Daniel’s smile faded. “What do you mean? We lived together until we were five or six. Don’t you remember? And Scruffy, the dog, he’d follow us everywhere.”

I felt defensive. This guy was talking nonsense.

“My dad says you’re the affair child. I only found out about you days ago.”

“Wait… you think I’m the affair child?” He asked. “So, you don’t remember that day? The fire?”

“Fire?”

A close-up shot of a boy's face | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a boy’s face | Source: Midjourney

He nodded. “Yeah, our house burned down when we were little. Our parents didn’t make it.”

“What?” I was shocked.

“Yeah, and I remember how you saved me. Afterward, you were adopted, and I was sent to some other family. The adoption process required me never reaching out.”

“That… that can’t be right,” I shook my head. “I’m not adopted. I would know if I was.”

“This is the truth, Billy,” he said. “I don’t know why your parents never told you anything.”

A young man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A young man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

I felt confused and angry once our meeting ended.

How could Mom and Dad do this to me? I thought. How could they hide something so important?

When I got home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to know more.

So, I snuck into my dad’s office the next day while my parents were out. I felt guilty, but I had to know the truth.

After going through some old documents, I found something proving Daniel was right.

A person going through documents | Source: Pexels

A person going through documents | Source: Pexels

It was a lawsuit about a fire at an apartment building. The same building Daniel told me about.

My hands shook as I read through the documents. The fire had started because of electrical issues in the building, and my adoptive parents were the owners. They ignored complaints about faulty wiring to avoid costly repairs.

Their negligence resulted in the fire that took my biological parents away from me.

What the… I thought. How is this even possible?

A young man standing in his house | Source: Midjourney

A young man standing in his house | Source: Midjourney

There were more documents, and they proved that I was indeed adopted. What hurt the most was that my adoptive parents hadn’t taken me in out of love or compassion. They’d done it to cover their tracks. To avoid a lawsuit.

At that point, I only wanted to do one thing. Confront my parents.

I waited until they got home that evening.

“I didn’t know you used to own this building,” I said, holding up the paper. “What happened with that fire?”

Dad’s eyebrows furrowed, but he tried his best to stay calm.

A man looking at his son | Source: Midjourney

A man looking at his son | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, that?” he asked. “That was ages ago. It was a tragedy, really. But why are you looking into that? And why did you go into my office?”

I could see the fear in his eyes. I had never seen Dad so scared before.

“It’s just that I met someone who mentioned a fire,” I revealed. “They said we used to know each other before I was adopted.”

Dad’s eyes widened in shock.

A man standing in his living room | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in his living room | Source: Midjourney

He tried to stammer out an explanation. It was something about not wanting to dredge up painful memories.

But it was too late. I could see the truth written all over his face.

I rushed to my bedroom and packed my belongings. I was done. I couldn’t bear to be in that house anymore.

I called Daniel and asked if I could live with him for a few days, and he agreed.

I remember how Dad kept apologizing as I left the house, but I wasn’t ready to forgive him.

A man standing outside his house | Source: Midjourney

A man standing outside his house | Source: Midjourney

Daniel welcomed me into his house, and we had dinner together.

“They stole you from me,” he said as we ate. “From us.”

I didn’t know how to respond.

All I knew was that my whole life had been a lie, and the people I thought were my loving parents were actually the ones responsible for the death of my real parents.

But as I sat there, I realized this tragedy led me to a real connection. It made me meet my brother, who had been waiting for me all these years.

And I felt grateful for that.

A young man smiling | Source: Midjourney

A young man smiling | Source: Midjourney

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: When David demanded a DNA test for their son, Amelia knew their marriage was on the edge. But what the results uncovered went far beyond paternity. It revealed a shocking twist that would forever alter David’s relationship with his mother.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

My Dad’s Entitled Girlfriend Mocks My Stuttering until She Finds Out Who I Am – It Was Time to Dot the I’s

I thought it was going to be a normal day at work until a stranger mocked me for something I had no control over. When I discovered who the stranger was, I didn’t hold back in calling her out. The best thing about the confrontation was that my father had my back.

I am sure I am not the only person who’s heard that if your partner mistreats service workers, that should be a red flag for your relationship. Their mistreatment is a sign that they look down on people who they feel are beneath them.

A waitress taking an order from customers | Source: Pixabay

A waitress taking an order from customers | Source: Pixabay

I learned this lesson during a recent and unexpected incident. See, I had been working at this restaurant for a year while busy with my Anthropology studies.

I would whip out my books and study between orders and when it was a slow day in the restaurant. Today was a busy day, and I hadn’t yet had a chance to go through my schoolwork, and worried I’d fall behind.

A waitress taking an order from customers | Source: Pixabay

A waitress taking an order from customers | Source: Pixabay

Juggling a part-time job and school isn’t easy. On that typical late evening, a middle-aged woman in a red dress walked into the establishment. For some reason, I distinctly felt a twinge of nerves.

She exuded an air of entitlement, and her sharp gaze scanned the room critically. Even so, I approached her with my usual courtesy, ready to take her order. “Good evening! I’m Alice. May I take your order, please?” I greeted her warmly with a broad and inviting smile.

A woman smiling while holding a book | Source: Pexels

A woman smiling while holding a book | Source: Pexels

I hoped my positive demeanor would calm her down because standing close to her, I could FEEL her bristling with annoyance. Her eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down, clearly unimpressed.

I instantly cringed physically as if she’d hit me or touched me unexpectedly. “And what is this new look you’re showing off, young lady? Where is your apron?” she snapped.

I felt a familiar tightening in my throat, my stutter threatening to emerge. “M-ma’am, I, I’m…”

Alice taking an order from Donna | Source: Midjourney

Alice taking an order from Donna | Source: Midjourney

She rolled her eyes dramatically, cutting me off. “I can’t HEAR you! Do you speak normal English? God, I’ll fire you straight away when I own this little shack.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was on the verge of tears as I tried to make sense of her statement. I wondered what she meant by owning the restaurant. I was about to open my mouth to defend myself and the establishment she’d reduced to a “shack,” when something happened.

An emotional woman | Source: Pexels

An emotional woman | Source: Pexels

Just then, my dad’s voice rang out from behind her. “Oh, you already met each other, perfect!”

Met each other? What was he talking about… What happened next became an absolutely gorgeous and memorable moment because the stranger started stuttering!

“H-h-honey, what do you mean?!” she asked, her previous bravado vanishing.

My dad walked over, smiling warmly. “You still don’t get it? This is my daughter, Alice!” he said, pulling me close for a one-armed hug.

A father hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels

A father hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels

Her face turned a shade of crimson as she looked back at me, her demeanor shifting from arrogant to flustered in a heartbeat! At that moment, I realized the MOST interesting part of the evening was about to begin!

The thought of crying was long gone as my father’s presence bolstered me. “Please, continue with what you were saying, ma’am. What were you saying you were going to do after you fired me when you own, what did you call it again? Ah yes! This shack?” I asked, grinning widely.

A woman smiling while holding a notebook | Source: Pexels

A woman smiling while holding a notebook | Source: Pexels

She stammered, trying to salvage the situation. “Oh, darling, you didn’t get the gist of what I was saying.”

“What were you saying, Donna?” my father asked as he started putting two and two together.

“Well, darling, of course, I was just j-j-joking!”

The woman punctuated the last word with a fake smile that convinced no one!

I raised an eyebrow, mimicking her earlier tone. “Oh, what’s wrong with YOUR English? So you can s-s-stutter and others can’t?”

An upset woman with a raised eyebrow | Source: Freepik

An upset woman with a raised eyebrow | Source: Freepik

My dad stood there, speechless, trying to process the situation.

I took a deep breath and turned to him, my heart pounding. “Dad, I’m sorry, but it seems like your taste in women failed after Mom.”

Donna reached out to him, but he stepped back, his expression hardening. “Please, honey, you have to understand. It was all a misunderstanding,” she pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice.

Donna defending herself while Alice looks on | Source: Midjourney

Donna defending herself while Alice looks on | Source: Midjourney

He shook his head, his disappointment evident. “I simply CAN NOT believe you’d talk like that with my daughter. Moreover, you didn’t know it was her, so that’s how you talk to service people?”

Donna’s eyes widened with desperation as she realized that things were backfiring on her.

I stood opposite my dad with a smug look and arms folded as I listened to their back and forth.

A father and his daughter standing with folded arms | Source: Freepik

A father and his daughter standing with folded arms | Source: Freepik

“No, no, I didn’t MEAN it that way. I just… I was having a bad day!” she exclaimed, sounding exasperated.

“Even a bad day wouldn’t excuse your behavior, Donna. You showed me your true colors,” my father said, his words marked with sadness.

“And those colors aren’t very pretty,” I added, siding with my dad.

A disappointed woman | Source: Freepik

A disappointed woman | Source: Freepik

“Please, give me another chance. I promise I’ll do and be better,” Donna begged softly, her voice breaking as all her arrogance went out the door. She never expected to get caught showing her true self.

A part of me felt sorry for her. It was clear from how she was reacting that she loved my dad, but how she treated me said a lot about her character. I wondered how many more people she had abused while they rendered services to her.

An unhappy woman holding a notebook | Source: Pexels

An unhappy woman holding a notebook | Source: Pexels

Whether she loved my dad or not didn’t matter if she wasn’t a good person and, as they say, “First impressions last.”

My dad looked at her with a mixture of sadness and resolve. “No, I think it’s best if we part ways. I can’t be with someone who disrespects my daughter and others like that.”

“Goodbye, and enjoy your last meal here, because I don’t think you’ll be welcome back,” I said, feeling a surge of confidence.

A woman smiling while standing next to her father | Source: Freepik

A woman smiling while standing next to her father | Source: Freepik

Donna’s face twisted in anger and humiliation as she opened her mouth to say something. But she thought against it before storming out of the restaurant. My dad turned to me, his expression softening. “I’m so sorry, Alice. I had no idea she was like that.”

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m just glad you know now,” I replied, feeling a wave of relief.

We hugged, and the other patrons in the restaurant, who had been quietly watching the scene, began to clap. I felt a surge of pride, knowing I stood up for myself and that my dad had my back. His entitled girlfriend was gone, and my dad and I could move forward without her toxic presence.

A father hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels

A father hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels

As the evening wound down, the restaurant became quieter. My dad and I sat at one of the tables, sharing a cup of coffee. The confrontation was still fresh in our minds, and we found solace in each other’s company.

“Dad, why did you never tell her about me?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

He sighed, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. “I wanted to, but it never seemed like the right time. I didn’t think she’d react like that.”

A sad father talking to his daughter | Source: Pexels

A sad father talking to his daughter | Source: Pexels

“Well, now you know,” I said, a hint of bitterness creeping into my voice. “It’s not the first time someone has mocked my stutter, but it hurt more coming from someone you cared about.”

He reached across the table, taking my hand in his. “I’m so proud of you, my angel. You’ve grown into such a strong and resilient young woman.”

His words warmed my heart, and I smiled at him. “Thanks, Dad. It means a lot to hear you say that.”

A happy woman smiling | Source: Pexels

A happy woman smiling | Source: Pexels

“I noticed how heartbroken you were to have to end your relationship. I am sorry, Dad,” I said, reaching out to hug him tightly.

“Thanks, pumpkin,” he smiled. “I did love her. We were together for almost a year, and I thought she was the one until today.”

I was sad for my father but secretly relieved that Donna didn’t become my stepmother. Something told me that my stutter would have been the least of my worries when it came to that rude woman. But luckily, fate played a good hand for me.

A sad father with his daughter | Source: Pexels

A sad father with his daughter | Source: Pexels

As the evening progressed, we talked about everything and nothing. The restaurant staff, who had seen the earlier drama, gave me nods of approval and supportive smiles. I felt a newfound sense of belonging and acceptance.

A few days later, life at the restaurant returned to normal. The regulars came and went, the kitchen buzzed with activity, and the waitstaff moved swiftly to keep up with the dinner rush. I felt a renewed sense of purpose and confidence in my work.

Happy patrons at a restaurant | Source: Pexels

Happy patrons at a restaurant | Source: Pexels

Later that night, as I was cleaning up, my dad approached me with a thoughtful expression. “I’ve been thinking about what happened with Donna,” he said.

I looked up from wiping down a table. “Yeah?”

“I realized that I’ve been too focused on finding someone new, and I haven’t been paying enough attention to you,” he admitted.

“Dad, it’s okay. I want you to be happy,” I replied, meaning every word.

A daughter comforting her father | Source: Pexels

A daughter comforting her father | Source: Pexels

He shook his head. “No, it’s not okay. I need to be there for YOU more. You’ve always been there for me, and I want to do the same for you.”

I felt a lump in my throat, touched by his sincerity. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”

We hugged again, and I knew our bond had grown stronger through this experience. The restaurant became more than just a place of work; it was a place of growth, resilience, and family.

A father and his daughter embracing | Source: Pexels

A father and his daughter embracing | Source: Pexels

The incident with Donna reminded me that people’s true colors always come out eventually. My dad’s ex-girlfriend learned that lesson the hard way. That mocking others, especially family, has consequences. And for me, it was a sweet victory, knowing I stood up for myself!

A happy waitress standing at a restaurant's door | Source: Pexels

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*