Daughter’s Boyfriend Comes Home to Visit Her Parents, But Her Father Never Could Have Guessed the Man Was Older than Him.

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In a fascinating tale of familial ties and moral quandaries, a man is thrust into an unexpected conflict when his young family member and her middle-aged boyfriend come home to visit. The tension escalates as the Original Poster (OP) decides to confront the boyfriend about his intentions, resulting in an explosive climax that sends ripples through their familial bonds.

Uninvited Company

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OP’s sister’s daughter decides to visit them in California. The 22-year-old niece wants to bring along her boyfriend. OP initially only knows the boyfriend is older but soon learns the guy is a 47-year-old man. This raises eyebrows, particularly because OP and his wife are in their early 40s.

Unlikely Acceptance

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At first, OP is vehemently against the idea of this much older boyfriend visiting. After a week of discussion, he reluctantly allows it, with the condition that he gets to ask the boyfriend some potentially uncomfortable questions. His wife is made aware of the planned questioning.

Questioning Intentions

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OP devises a set of five questions, aiming to uncover the nature of the relationship. They revolve around how they met, the boyfriend’s history, the reason behind dating a significantly younger woman, awareness of the niece’s family history, and their long-term plans. His wife seems to accept these questions.

Uncomfortable Confrontation

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During the visit, after a seemingly normal dinner, OP invites the boyfriend for a beer on the porch. He begins asking his predetermined questions. After the second question, the boyfriend becomes defensive and claims it’s none of OP’s business.

Crossing Boundaries

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OP retorts that since they’re under his roof and it involves his niece, it is his business. The boyfriend claims he’s made to feel “uncomfortable.” This further irks OP, as he believes the older boyfriend is exploiting his young niece.

The Ultimatum

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OP challenges the boyfriend to answer his questions and prove he’s a stand-up guy, or he can leave. This move angers the niece and OP’s wife, who claim he was being overly intrusive. They insist that if the niece is happy, he should let it go.

Parting Ways

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The boyfriend chooses to leave, stirring up an argument with OP’s wife and the niece. The couple insists that OP has overstepped his boundaries. Meanwhile, back at the house, the niece is furious with OP for asking such ‘intrusive’ questions.

The Relationship End

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The relationship between the niece and her older boyfriend soon ends, but it’s unclear whether OP’s actions triggered the breakup. OP is secretly pleased to hear of the ending, as he never approved of the age gap. Additionally, he found the ex-boyfriend’s answers and defensiveness insincere.

Justifying His Actions

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When his sister reaches out to ask what happened at the meeting, OP defends his actions. He states that the niece being a woman had nothing to do with his line of questioning, and he’d have done the same if his son brought home an older woman. He insists he wasn’t immediately confrontational, having had a brief, casual conversation with the boyfriend about the Star Wars movies before moving on to his questions.

Family Naivety

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OP claims the family is naive, often assuming the best in people. OP believes they need his assertiveness to protect them from potential harm. This justification somewhat appeases some while still stirring debate among others.

Seeking Validation

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As discussions continue, OP seeks validation for his actions, claiming he was ready to accept any respectful and honest answers from the boyfriend. However, the boyfriend failed to meet these simple criteria. The conflict still lingers in the air, with a divide between those who see OP’s point and those who side with the niece and her boyfriend.

Reconciliation and Apology

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OP manages to mend fences with his niece, who understands his actions were from a place of concern and love. He still apologizes for how he handled the situation. His relationship with his niece is restored, but the underlying tension remains.

The Revelation

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The niece reveals the reason behind their breakup: the boyfriend was cheating on his wife. Moreover, he had made a secret promise to divorce his wife for his niece. The situation becomes even more complicated as it’s revealed he has three children, all around the niece’s age.

A Hidden Scandal

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When the boyfriend’s true colors are unveiled, OP’s suspicions and behavior seem justified. The revealed infidelity and the existence of his three children underscore the manipulative nature of the boyfriend. It’s a grim confirmation of the possible exploitation the niece was subjected to.

A Lesson Unlearned

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While the situation has largely been resolved, OP and his wife still disagree on the handling of the situation. His wife, still subscribing to her family’s naivety, believes OP’s methods were too aggressive. The rift in their perspectives is yet to be bridged.

Moving Forward

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Even though a consensus has not been reached, the family moves forward. Their experience has been a sobering reminder of the importance of vigilance and the potential dangers of naivety. The events, while unsettling, have left an indelible mark on their family dynamics.

Was The Man’s Behavior Appropriate?

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The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “It’s not a huge deal to have an age gap as it’s becoming more prominent. However, I can understand where he may have become uncomfortable.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote: “She’s an adult, yes she can do what she wants. But she clearly has daddy issues, and the guy’s taking advantage of that vulnerability. With an age gap like this, it’s hard for there not to be a power imbalance, which can be hard to see for someone at 22 with little experience with relationships and adult life, as it’s all pretty new.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person states, “You should have talked to the niece about it first. Acting like you were cool with having him stay and then springing an interrogation on someone she invited without letting her know that was a condition of him being a guest in your home was unnecessarily rude, and I’m sure it embarrassed the h*** out of her.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another viewpoint on the story: “The 25-year age gap seems a bit weird anyway, and the fact he got ‘uncomfortable’ being asked simple questions about the relationship made it seem like he was taking advantage of your niece and didn’t like being called out on it.”