He Abandoned His Daughter with His Mother for 10 Years — When He Returned, He Found the House Empty and Deserted

Nicholas disappeared ten years ago, leaving his little daughter in his mother’s care. When he finally returned, hoping to reunite with his family, he found only an abandoned house.

Doris Dakkar had already been left behind once. When her son Nicholas was just seven years old, her husband abandoned her, and she had to raise Nicholas alone, working two jobs to give him everything he needed. She never imagined that, at sixty, she would become a single parent again—this time to her granddaughter.

Nicholas had married Sandra, a wonderful woman, and they had a daughter named Paige. Sadly, Sandra passed away unexpectedly when Paige was only nine years old. Just weeks later, to Doris’s surprise, Nicholas was already involved with another woman named Donna. Within six months, they were married.

Doris noticed Nicholas had changed. He became distant from Paige and entirely focused on his new wife. Paige, once a cheerful and lively child, became withdrawn. Doris tried to believe it was just grief.

Then, around Paige’s tenth birthday, Nicholas asked his mother to care for the girl for three weeks while he and Donna traveled to Alaska.

— “Every couple needs time alone, Mom,” he said. “And lately, Paige has been difficult… she’s angry at Donna.”

Doris agreed, though not without saying:

— “Donna knew you had a daughter. A grown woman should be able to understand the pain of a ten-year-old who just lost her mother and watched her father remarry so quickly.”

Nicholas got defensive but left Paige with her and promised to return on August 27th.

That day never came.

He vanished. His phone was disconnected. Doris discovered he had sold his house and disappeared. For years, he never called his daughter, and only rarely replied to her messages.

Doris stepped in fully and told Paige:

— “We’ll manage, you and me. I love you, Paige. And one day, your father will regret what he did.”

Time passed.

Ten years later, Nicholas returned. When he arrived at his mother’s old house, he found it overgrown and boarded up. He knocked on the neighbor’s door. She was shocked to see him and spoke coldly:

— “Doris lives with Paige now. But don’t expect a welcome like the prodigal son received.”

Still, Nicholas went to the new address. To his surprise, it was a huge, luxurious mansion. He rang the doorbell and was greeted by a maid.

— “I’d like to speak with Doris or Paige Dakkar,” he said.

— “You mean Mrs. Dakkar or Mrs. Henderson?” she replied, leading him to a lavish sitting room.

A few minutes later, Paige entered. She looked at him silently, without surprise. The neighbor had surely warned her he was coming.

— “Paige, my baby…” he said.

— “What do you want, father?” she asked coldly.

— “I came to see you… and your grandma. I missed you both.”

Doris entered then:

— “Nicholas. What do you want?”

— “To see my family. I was hoping for a warm welcome…”

— “You abandoned me,” said Paige. “And now you expect warmth?”

— “It wasn’t me… Donna threatened to leave me…”

— “Oh,” Doris said, knowingly. “But you’re here alone. So the money ran out — and Donna did too?”

— “I’m struggling. I thought you could help me…”

Paige walked over to a desk, pulled out a set of keys and an envelope:

— “These are the keys to the old house. There’s $5,000 in the envelope. Don’t expect anything more. And don’t come back.”

She put her arm around Doris and led her out. The maid quickly returned and escorted Nicholas out before he could lay a hand on anything.

Sitting in his old, rusty car, Nicholas stared at the mansion with tears in his eyes.

— “I did what I had to do,” he said. “Why can’t people understand? There’s no gratitude in this world…”

But the truth is: those who abandon the ones they love shouldn’t expect to be welcomed home.