'My husband just told me he has secret child, 12, and wants to bring her home'

A woman has been left feeling 'ashamed and trapped' after her husband of 10 years revealed he has a secret 12-year-old daughter to another woman - and he wants her to move in

A woman has been left in shock after discovering her husband has a secret 12-year-old daughter from another relationship. The 38-year-old, who has been married to her husband, 42, for a decade and shares two children with him, aged eight and five, thought she was living a "normal, happy life" until her world was turned upside down.

She shared on Reddit that her husband came home from work one day "visibly shaking", sat her down and confessed he had a child from a one-night stand just before they met. "He sat me down and confessed that he had a child from a one-night stand right before we met. She's 12 now, and her mother passed away recently. The kicker? He knew about the child the entire time but kept it a secret because 'he didn't want to lose me'."

He showed her emails he'd sent to his daughter's mother over the years - asking for photos, sending money, and generally checking in on them. "I was devastated but also completely numb. He'd never met the girl in person until her mother passed away."

The situation became even more complicated when her husband revealed that the girl has no other family and he wants her to live with them permanently. "He said he feels it's the 'right thing to do.' I didn't know how to respond. One part of me feels like I should be furious, but the other part of me feels like this poor child has lost her mom and needs stability.

"We had a huge fight. I screamed, cried, threw things. He just kept apologising, saying he thought he was doing what was best. But I can't get past the fact that he hid something so big from me for an entire decade." Despite knowing the girl was blameless, she welcomed her into their home and seeking guidance on how to come to terms with the situation, she continued: "She's sweet, quiet, and totally innocent in all of this, but I feel like I'm living someone else's life. I see her every day, and all I can think is: my husband lied to me. She has his eyes, his smile, and it's like a constant reminder of his betrayal.

"My kids are adjusting, though they're confused about why their new 'sister' appeared out of nowhere. I haven't told anyone else - not my family, not my friends. I feel so ashamed and trapped. I don't know if I can stay with him after this, but at the same time, I feel responsible for this girl who had no choice in any of this. I'm drowning, and I don't know what to do."

Users reacted to her plea for advice online; one chimed in with: "I'd never stay married to someone who lied and hid a child for 10 years. I mean if he can lie about something this huge then what else is he lying about?" Another added: "I wonder what else he's been lying about." A third advised: "Get couples counselling before making any decisions but it's understandable to want to divorce after being lied to your whole relationship."

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