I Gave My Surname to Her Children. Now I’m Legally Obliged to Support Them While She Lives Happily E…

I gave my surname to her children. Now Im obliged to support them, while she lives happily ever after with their biological father.

Let me tell you how I morphed from the fun bloke into the official cash machine for two kids who only message me when they need money for cinema tickets, but forget I exist come Christmas.

It all started three years ago. I met Sophiean incredible woman, recently divorced, with two children aged eight and ten. I fell for herhead over heels. Completely besotted. She constantly reassured me, The kids adore you! And gullible as I was, I believed her. Of course they didI took them to theme parks every Saturday and Sunday.

One day, during one of those deep, life-altering conversations, Sophie said, I feel sad the kids dont have their fathers name. He never officially acknowledged them.

And, in what I can only describe as my crowning glory (heavy sarcasm intended), I replied, Well I could adopt them. Theyre practically mine, anyway.

You know in films when time freezes and some voice-over solemnly proclaims, It was at that exact moment disaster became inevitable? I didnt get that voice-over. But I really should have.

Sophie burst into grateful tears. The children flung their arms around me. I felt like a heroa daft one, but still a hero.

We went through the whole lotlawyers, solicitors, soliciting offices, judges. The children officially became Oliver Bennett and Jessica Bennettwith MY surname. I thought I was happy. Sophie was happy. We even threw a little family do with cake.

Six months later. SIX.

Sophie approaches me, grave-faced: We need to talk Im not sure how to say this, but Toms come back.

Tom who? I asked, even though I knew exactly who she meant.
The childrens real dad. Hes changed. Hes grown up. He wants to make things right and get the family back together.

I was gobsmacked. Truly speechless.

And what are you going to do? I managed.
Im going to give him a chance. For the children, you understand?

Of course, I understood. Understood as if a neon sign had lit up showing me the nearest exit.

But Sophie, I ADOPTED them. Theyre legally my children.
Yes, yes well sort all that later. The main thing is the children get to have their dad.

Well sort it later. As if it were an unpaid electricity bill.

I saw my solicitor. The man nearly choked on his tea.
You signed for full adoption?
Yes.
Then youre their legal father. All the responsibilitieschild support, school, healthcare. The lot.
But Im not with their mother anymore
Doesnt matter. Youre the father. Thats what the law says.

And so here I ampaying maintenance to Sophie, who now lives blissfully with Tom in MY flat. Because the children need stability and shouldnt be uprooted.

MY flat. Paid for by me. Yet I had to move outapparently my leaving was too distressing for the kids.

The best bit?
Tomthe phantom father who hadnt spent so much as a penny on these childrennow swans around, taking them to the park and football, being the family hero.
And every month, I get an email from my solicitor:
Child maintenance transferred: £XXX
With a glum little sad face emoji attached, as if that helps.

Last month, Oliver asked me, Hi, could you send me a bit more? I want some new trainers.
Cant Tom buy them for you?
He says youre my legal dad. Hes just dad at heart.

Dad at heart. How convenient. Im dad via bank transfer.

Undoing an adoption? Impossible, pretty much. The court would see me as the villain trying to abandon his children.

My mates have stopped giving me pitying looks.
Mate, at what point did you think this was wise?
I was in love.
Being in love doesnt mean you switch your brain off completely.

Hes not wrong.

Now, whenever I see a bloke looking after kids that arent his, I want to shout:
DONT SIGN ANYTHING! BE THE FUN UNCLE, THE BOYFRIEND, WHATEVERBUT DO NOT SIGN!

My mum only sighed, Loves made a fool of you, and hugged mein a way that hurt far more than any words.

Just yesterday: Unexpected cost: school supplies £XXX
Unexpected. As if school comes as a surprise every year.

And Sophie uploads photos of her happy family.
Childrenwith MY surnamestanding beside the man who abandoned them.

The cherry on top?
Jessica (age 10, yes, shes on Instagram) has written in her bio:
Daughter of Sophie and Tom

My name? Absent.
Im the anonymous sponsor of their lives.

So now, here I amalone, £500 lighter each month, with two children who only message when they need money, and the sobering knowledge I made the most catastrophic mistake of my lifeall for love.

The only silver lining? When someone asks if I have kids, I can say yes and share this tale at the pub. Everyone laughs.
MeI only laugh on the outside.

And you? Have you signed anything for love that later cost you dearly or am I the only genius who handed over both his surname and his bank details in a buy-one-get-one-free deal?