The strength of the bonds that exist within a family depends on the way they were tended over the years. While many are raised in big families, others might not be even lucky enough to receive the love of their parents. Natasha Bell, 21, was hit by a heartbreaking reality when her mom revealed that her biological father is not the one she has been living with all these years. When this young girl found out about her real dad and tried to contact him, he refused to accept her. From living a peaceful life to breathing in a mess, this story took many turns for all involved.
A Letter
Everything was fine in 55-year-old Ross Mclaughlan’s life until a letter came hitting him with the most unexpected news. The letter came from the Child Support Services and stated that he was the father of a girl named Natasha Bell. He never knew he had a daughter. It wasn’t a merry moment for Ross at all. He wanted to just get this over with and so, gave the money that the services asked for and thought it would end. Unfortunately for this man, he was just at step one.
Daughter Is Enlightened
The woman whose life had taken a turn was Natasha Bell. This 21-year-old makeup artist has been looking for answers since the day her mom revealed the news about her real father. She was raised by another man whom she considered her father but her mom had another secret. Natasha set out on her journey to find the truth about her biological father but what she unraveled in the process would change her life.
Paying For The Freedom
Since the day Ross received that letter, he hasn’t been able to breathe in peace. He was not ready to accept their demand of taking a paternity test that would prove if he was Natasha’s father or not. Ross who lives in Stockton-on-Tees even denied having any relation with Angie Nelson, Natasha’s mom. Despite all his claims and statements, he still had to pay a certain amount as told by the Child Support Services.
Unanticipated Stress
Ross left his job as an oil-rig worker when this new information created a mess in his life. The DNA test dispute burdened him with stress and he had to leave everything to deal with this situation. He wanted out of this feud stating that all these assertions made by Angie and her daughter were false. He needed proof but he denied the DNA test. So, how would this situation be in his favor?
The Financial Loss
The money troubles piled up for Ross. He had made a payment of around £10,000 (almost $13,000) in child support to Natasha and her mom. That wasn’t all! The pending amount was deducted from his salary and eventually, he was sacked. The authorities notified him that he owed $13,000 to that family but he dismissed the payment order as he was out of his job. It had been 8 years since he had been informed about Natasha and yet there had been no moment of peace.
The Big Test
All depended on the DNA test now according to Natasha. She urged Ross to take this test but all futile attempts. He was adamant about his decision. Natasha and her mom were quite sure about Ross being the biological father and this was the only way to prove their claim to be true. Ross clearly stated, “I won't have a DNA test. Not ever.” He had experienced many losses and was infuriated. He had a lot to say about this scenario.
Expressing Rage
He expressed his anger with this situation in an interview, “These people are money-hunting cheats. No way am I paying anymore for someone else's child, no way. They've denied my rights, taken my wages, taken away my pension and I've lost my job. It's disgusting how they have done this. It's only about their money and greed.” Turns out, there was a lot in the past that needed to be unveiled that would lead them to the answers.
All That Happened Once
This mess was a result of some decisions taken in 1996. Angie Nelson was a mom to a four-year-old boy, Daniel when she found out that she was pregnant again. She and her husband Frank were raising their son together despite a few lows in their relationship. They even decided to part ways at one point as the fights were just increasing every day. In June 1997, Angie gave birth to her daughter Natasha but at that point, her mind was brimming with questions and she needed answers.
Reason For The Complication
Angie and Frank were going through a tough phase in their marriage. They were constantly fighting when Ross Mclaughlin stepped into her life and swept her off her feet. “He was a handsome man, good fun and very complimentary. At a time when my marriage was in trouble, my husband worked away a lot and we’d been arguing over little things, I found it very difficult to resist his charms,” Angie shared in an interview.
Just A Fling
This fling with Ross lasted for a few weeks and they never used any sort of protection while sleeping together. Angie was going through some fertility treatment and thought that she could not get pregnant. She was so wrong! During those weeks, they spent a lot of time together but eventually, parted ways due to other reasons, But what they thought had ended was following them around. There was another twist in their tale.
Giving Another Chance
When Angie was dating Ross, she knew that he wasn’t someone who would settle with her and commit to a relationship. So, they had a good time for a bit and then, they went their ways. This mom wanted to be with a man who would take care of her and her children for a long time. She realized that Frank was the right one to be with and that’s where she ended up eventually. But things were not going to be smooth for them.
Good News
Angie found out about her pregnancy and she was doubtful that his baby was Ross’s. However, she didn’t let this doubt make a place in her head and brushed it aside. She didn’t want to ruin her precious family with such thoughts. Angie believed that this new baby was Frank’s and gave him the good news. They were ecstatic about welcoming another member to their little family.
She Arrives
Angie and Frank were excited about the birth of their baby girl and they built a beautiful nursery and went shopping together for baby stuff. They named her Natasha! She was born at Hartlepool General Hospital in June 1997. Frank was the one holding her for the first time in his arms and Angie was sure at that moment that he was the father. He signed on Natasha’s birth certificate as her dad. This birth certificate became trouble for one and a weapon for another later in their story.
Father’s Gut Feeling
Although Frank and Angie had tried to mend their broken bond over all these years, it still wasn’t strong enough to carry the weight of this whole family. Soon, they decided to end their marriage. According to the divorce settlement, he was expected to transfer £118 per week to Angie and the kids. He sent the money via the Child Support Agency. After some time, he had an inkling about the existing scenario and suspected that Natasha might not actually be his daughter.
Suspicions Arise
When Natasha was 12 years old, Frank’s outstanding payments had reached £38,000. The CSA had been pressurizing him to clear his dues and pay his family. He even heard the rumors about his wife lying to him about her affairs while he was on work trips. That’s when things hit him! He wanted a DNA test on both his children and Angie agreed to it.
The Beginning Of A Long Journey
Angie knew that Ross was Natasha’s father by that time. “I could see more and more of him in her, so I was almost certain what the test was going to show,” she revealed. The test results came and according to those results, Daniel was Frank’s son but Natasha wasn’t his daughter. Things started to align for once but little did they know, they were on the verge of being complex in no time.
Winds In The Direction Of Ross
As per Angie’s statements, two CSA officers approached her to ask her about Natasha’s biological father as Frank was no longer paying for her. She said that she told them about Ross but requested them to not contact him as it would be a “shock”. She even claimed to have made futile attempts to reach out to him. The CSA found Ross and sent him the letter that ordered him to pay child support for his daughter, Natasha. Now, he was a part of this tangled situation.
Refuting The Claims
When that letter came and informed Ross that he has a daughter, he was in complete disbelief. He insisted that he does not remember having a relationship with Angie. On the other hand, Angie claimed that she broke the pregnancy news to Ross and even told him that the baby could be his. These two conflicting statements just took the story to an even more complex phase as neither of them was ready to budge. Their story wasn’t reaching a conclusion as more secrets were unveiled.
Almost At War
Things were heating up as Ross and Angie were on an entirely different track and there was no meeting point. Both of them were infuriated by the actions and words of each other. “I feel very annoyed by his claims not to remember me. He’s implying I picked someone out of the phone book and said, “He’ll do as my daughter’s father”, which is very insulting,” shared Angie. That’s when Ross came up with a plan.
Temporary Solution
Ross had enough of all the accusations and judgments being thrown at him. He knew the consequences of ignoring the orders of the Child Support Agency and did not want any problem with the debt collectors, so, he started paying £100 ($130) a month with the hope that it won’t last long. While he anticipated better days to arrive, another letter came in his mail to shatter his hopes.
Drowning In Debt
Ross had to make regular payments to Angie and Natasha but he didn’t expect the next order in his mail. Another letter stated that the amount has been increased and now, he will have to make a payment of £320 ($417) each month. He wasn’t far from debt now as after sending this amount from his salary - every month, he would not be left with much to survive on. He contemplated the situation and discovered a way to prove that he wasn’t Natasha’s biological father.
Turning To The Birth Certificate
When the payments were increased, it put Ross in a tough spot as he was struggling with financial issues. He had to find a way to escape this scene and live in peace. He asked for a copy of Natasha’s birth certificate as he knew that it would prove him right. When he saw the certificate, he felt relieved as it wasn’t his name under the “father” section. Frank Bell was stated as Natasha’s father on it. He knew his next move.
Asking The Authorities
The next thing Ross did was contact CMS to notify them about this proof. But they replied that the birth certificate does not count as proof in such cases. So, he had to continue with the payments. “We notify people before making deductions to ensure they have a chance to contest parentage. When parentage is disputed we look for conclusive proof such as a DNA test or a court declaration,” a spokesman for the Department of Work and Pension stated. We wonder where this story was headed!
Emotions Take Over
Angie could not control her emotions while explaining the chaos that has been created with all the revelations from the past. She said, “For him to say he had no knowledge and to go public with it is appalling because he’s dragged Natasha into something she never wanted to involved with.” She wasn’t pleased with all that was happening with her and Natasha. She added, “He’s lucky the money is not back dated all the way back up when she was born because he’s known about her since then.”
Vague Claims
This story was not untangling anytime soon. Both the parties had a series of claims to make. What Angie admitted next was unexpected! She averred that she went out with Ross thrice after leaving Frank when Natasha’s age was between six to ten years. She claimed that Ross came to her place twice and both times, she had dropped Natasha at her grandparents’ house. Certain details made it sound fabricated. It was weird that she would not make her daughter meet her biological dad when he was there.
A Confession To Make
Natasha was still kept in the dark about her real dad. Four months passed after the DNA test revealed that Frank wasn’t her biological father. Angie finally decided to confess all of it. It happened during the weekend when she, Natasha, Daniel, and her parents were gathered together. “I just cried. A lot. We all did really. It was so emotional. I don’t know what I said, apparently ot a lot, because the news was so shocking,” recalled Natasha.
It Sinks In Gradually
After Natasha took in such a huge revelation, she could see why she never felt close to Frank. She said that she doesn’t recall him being a “dad” in her life. She further shared, “But what broke my heart most was finding out that my brother and I weren’t full siblings. We’d always been close and Dan tried to reassure me saying, over and over: ‘You will always be my little sister, no matter what happens. Nothing will change’.” Natasha was curious to know about her biological father now.
Scrolling Through Facebook
Angie searched Ross on Facebook to show Natasha some pictures of her dad. “She showed me some photographs of him from his Facebook page — they weren’t friends on there, so it was just what was publicly accessible,” said the 21-year-old. Natasha gave a closer look at his photos that were public and she saw them attentively, she was surprised while noticing a few things.
Identical Features
Natasha expressed, “I could see a resemblance between him and me and I remember daydreaming about what he might be like, and whether he shared my love of arts and crafts and theatre.” While she was filled with joy to find the “missing” member of her family, Ross was facing difficulty dealing with all the piled-up payments to the Child Support Agency.
Requesting A DNA Test
Angie and Natasha made numerous attempts at making Ross take the DNA test. But he wasn’t eating his words. The main conflict started right at this point when Ross denied taking a paternity test. He even said that it’s against his human rights to ask him for a DNA test. Natasha spoke about him in the interview and expressed, “I do understand that he might be hurt by the way things have happened but my mum was not sure who my father was until I took the DNA test.”
Natasha’s Perspective
This 21-year-old makeup artist has experienced quite a lot till now. From believing Frank to be her dad for almost 13 years to her biological father expressing disinterest in her and not accepting her as his daughter, it is too much at such a young age. “I do wonder why, when he found out from the Child Support Agency that he had a child and started paying maintenance, he didn’t get in touch,” Natasha shared.
Running From The Responsibility
Angie’s thoughts on this are bitter and completely against Ross. Every word uttered by Ross about this whole situation made her feel awful. She said, “He’s known about Natasha since she was 13 and has chosen not to get in contact. I believe Ross’s refusal to take the DNA test, or reach out to his daughter, is down to the fact he doesn’t want any responsibilities.”
A Genuine Demand
In this complicated family drama, each member stood firm on their point. Ross declared that forcing him to take the DNA test is a violation of his human rights. But Natasha made it clear that she deserves to know who her father was and those are her rights! She has been in the dark for so long and when the light is so close, she doesn’t want to give up and turn around. Natasha believes that she isn’t asking for anything that would entangle this situation any further.
Two Parallel Worlds
Both parties just turned deaf ear to each other’s claims. In an interview when asked about this whole mess, Ross said, “As I explained previously, I don’t remember this woman, or ever having anything to do with her, at all.” Natasha’s statements clearly reflected her hopeful state of mind. She expressed, “I feel hurt that Ross has spoken publicly about this, without ever trying to get to know me, but I don’t want to rule out the chance of being part of his life, one day.”
Accepting The Mistakes
Since nothing seemed to go in the right direction, the emotions were flowing uncontrollably and Angie broke down during an interview. She admitted that her past mistakes were haunting her present and also, her daughter was suffering because of those poor decisions. “I’ve always had guilt: I feel guilty for the affair, guilty that I did that to Frank, the fact I fell pregnant, guilt that I let Frank say he could be the father and guilt that Natasha didn’t know who her dad was,” she shared.
Possessing The Power
There could have been a happy ending if only they all agreed on one thing. Angie is aware that she can take away the burden of money from but she won’t do that. She revealed, “That money is to compensate me for all the years he hasn’t paid. The CMS would let it drop if I wanted them to but I don’t — in fact, I’m even more determined to get it now he has gone public about this.” They knew that there was a solution, but refused to accept it!
What’s Important - Family Or Money?
In their story, money changed everything. They thought that money would solve their problems and mend broken bonds but it just ruined them. Natasha always supported her mom in all of this and never left her side. “I’m not angry with Mum because it must have been a really hard time for her and I feel she did what she thought was best for me, and maybe it was, at the time,” Natasha shared. She never anticipated that she would be in a muddle wishing for a miracle that would turn her life.
One Happy Ending
Natasha, Angie, and Ross were going separate ways, and “happily ever after” was not in sight yet. However, there was a happy ending for one person – Frank. He stepped away from this mess a long time ago and built a better relationship with his son Daniel. He never interfered in their existing issues and lived a calm life. Frank had a lot to say about this chaotic incident.
Stating The Truth
When interviewed about the whole drama and how he felt on realizing that he was deceived by his wife, he said, “I asked for the DNA test because friends told me that Angie wasn’t faithful while I was working away, but I only discovered Natasha wasn’t my daughter when I got the results back.” “My heart goes out to Ross, who I don’t know, but my advice to him would be to take the test, at least then he’ll know for sure,” Frank concluded.
Awaiting The Answers
It hasn’t been an easy experience for any of them. They were in a fight that demanded emotional balance. However, they all broke down once during this battle and lost composure. For Natasha, being in a spot that is full of baseless claims was a shock. She was surrounded by lies while she was growing up. She woke up one day only to realize that the man she had been calling “dad” wasn’t her father. That is a lot for a teenager to believe. All these years and they are still awaiting a positive response.
