A Malaysian woman who spent years wondering why she never felt loved by her adoptive parents eventually discovered a family secret that answered many of her questions — but left her questioning her own worth.
In an anonymous confession shared on social media, the woman said she was adopted as a baby and did not remember having a particularly happy childhood.
Instead, she recalled growing up in an environment filled with fear and pain, witnessing frequent arguments between her parents and being physically abused by her father, particularly when he was in a bad mood.
She also said some relatives treated her as an “outsider” because she was adopted, making her feel even more isolated.
“Whenever something went missing at home, some relatives would immediately suspect that I had taken it. They would even tell their own children not to get too close to me,” she recalled.
Despite her difficult childhood, the woman said she continued caring for her adoptive parents after reaching adulthood because she viewed it as her responsibility as a daughter.
However, she said her efforts were often met with hurtful treatment, particularly from her mother, who would scold her over even minor matters whenever she visited.
“I always tell myself that she’s older now and has health problems, so perhaps her emotions are genuinely harder to control. But honestly, every time I leave, I still feel deeply hurt inside.
“Sometimes, when my parents say things that really hurt me, I’ll go home and pray, hoping that God will give me a heart that can forgive them.
“I know they raised me, and I also know that I should be grateful for that, so I’ve always told myself not to hold things against them,” she said.
Yet the emotional pain remained, with the woman admitting that she sometimes wondered whether she would have been better off if her parents had disowned her.
Her doubts took a new turn when a relative eventually revealed a secret about why she had been adopted.
According to the relative, her adoptive parents’ marriage had been in serious trouble before she joined the family and they had been close to divorcing.
“They later decided to adopt me with the hope that having a child would give them a reason to hold the family together again.
“I always thought my parents didn’t like me because I wasn’t good enough, but now I realise I was actually a lifeline for their marriage,” she said.
The revelation left her devastated and conflicted over whether she should continue trying to be a dutiful daughter.
“Should I continue trying to be a dutiful daughter, or am I allowed to admit that in fact, they’ve hurt me very deeply too?
“For a child who never truly felt loved growing up, how much time does it take for me to finally learn to stop questioning whether I’m worthy of being loved?” she asked.
