Dad bribes 18-year-old daughter's 21-year-old boyfriend with a car to break up with her, he agrees and ghosts her: "It's for your own good"

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Jul 8, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

What do you do when your partner's family straight-up just doesn't like you? You've done everything you can. You've attended all the holiday events, you've partaken in their peculiar family traditions without fuss, and you've even brought a homemade dish to the 4th of July potluck that meets everyone's dietery restrictions. However, they just don't seem to approve of you for some reason or another. Best case scenario, your partner stands up to you and at the very least, keeps them from being openly hostile to your face. But even then, it's an uncomfortable position to be in.

In our story today, an 18-year-old girl's dad does not approve of her 21-year-old boyfriend. He goes as far as to bribe him with a free car in order to keep him away from his daughter. The worst part? The ploy actually works. Our poor protagonist doesn't realize what's happening when she's left ghosted for weeks, but she finally gets the truth after texting him from a different number. Scroll down to read the texts and full story. 

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  • 01

    Am I overreacting for cutting off my dad and my boyfriend after I found out my dad gave him a car to leave me?

    Cheezburger Image 10526454528
    via Mike Marchetti from capturenow

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    34 C Chase > I wasn't going to I owe you that I just want to know the truth Please don't lie to me Then what happened? Why did you leave like that? You dad offered me his car To leave you alone He said I was holding you back That you deserve someone with a future He told me I'd just drag you down Yeah I needed it + iMessage What? And you took it?
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 03
    34 C Chase > That you deserve someone with a future He told me I'd just drag you down And you took it? Yeah I needed it I'm not proud But it's for your own good, he would never accepted me anyway You let him decide for me For us Read 21:59 I'm sorry I swear I never meant to hurt you You already did You are done with me + iMessage Forever Delivered
    via u/carolina_diary

  •  Our protagonist may not like it, but it seems like he made his choice long ago. It's clear that the car was worth more than the relationship.

  • 04
    I'm 18 and this happened a couple weeks ago but I'm still not okay. I was dating someone for a few months and even though it wasn't super long it felt
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 05
    really deep. We were close. We texted all the time, called at night, sent music and random stuff. He was 21 and didn't come from a perfect background. He worked part-time, didn't have a car, and was still
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 06
    figuring things out. He usually walked or got rides from friends, and he never made me feel like that was a problem. I liked him the way he was and how he made me feel.
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10526455040
    via ppnmm from Getty Images Pro

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 08
    But my dad hated him from the start. He kept saying I deserved better. Someone with a future. He thought this guy would only drag me down. It got to a point where he'd make comments even when my boyfriend was around, like I was wasting myself or throwing my life away.
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10526454784
    via KOSTIANTYN POSTUMITENKO from Prostock-studio

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 10
    Then out of nowhere, my boyfriend completely cut me off. No explanation. He blocked me everywhere. I thought I did something wrong. I felt sick for days, replaying everything in my head.
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 11
    A few days ago I texted him from another number. I asked for the truth. And he told me. He said my dad offered him his car if he left me alone and
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 12
    disappeared. He said my dad told him I deserved someone better and that he would never accept him anyway. And he accepted it. He said he needed it and thought it was for my own good.
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 13
    The screenshots are from that conversation. I told him he let my dad make the decision for both of us. He just said sorry and that he never meant to hurt me. But he already did. I told him he was done with me. Forever.
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 14
    I feel like I never mattered to either of them. Like I was just passed over and pushed aside. And now I don't even know how to feel. Part of me wonders if
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 15
    he did it because he really thought he was helping me, or if he just used it as an excuse to walk away. I don't know if I should forgive him or if this just proves he never really loved me. Am I overreacting?
    via u/carolina_diary
  • 16
    whoeverrightnow It's a really weird situation to be honest. I'm kind of shocked your dad would give him his car unless it was an extra car? In any case, if it were a longer relationship, I would say he definitely should have fought for you. Maybe it's all for the best at this point. as it is.
    via u/whoeverrightnow
  • 17
    I do see your boyfriend's point of not wanting to go up against your father who hated him. Yes he should have not taken the car, but then what; your father still would not accept him. It would cause havoc and drama. Your dad does sound pretty controlling and awful though.
    via u/whoeverrightnow
  • 18
    was a knightmare-shark Thats kinda my view point on this. Like yeah, it thing for the boyfriend to accept the car. But honestly, he would never have been
    via u/knightmare-shark
  • 19
    accepted by the family and it would likely end up causing resentment between him and OOP if they stayed together and he got treated like sh. We dont know the full context, but I too would have probably taken the car in this situation.
    via u/knightmare-shark
  • 20
    Cheezburger Image 10526455296
    via pixelshot

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 21
    Novel-Store-3398 Exactly. It's easy to say "he shouldn't have taken the car" from the outside, but realistically? Being in a relationship where the family openly hates you wears you down fast.
    via u/Novel-Store-3398
  • 22
    Resentment builds, fights start, and suddenly the relationship isn't even about you two anymore it's constant damage control. Given the situation, cutting his losses and taking the car was probably the least painful option for everyone.
    via u/Novel-Store-3398
  • 23
    Apprehensive-Fee-286 Baby girl I'm so sorry, but I'm going to give it to you straight no chaser. Nobody that truly ever cared about you would throw away a relationship for a car. People deal with their partners family they don't like all the time (unless it
    via u/Apprehensive-Fee-286
  • 24
    starts to affect them mentally). Realistically in this moment you have to decide if you love or even like yourself enough to know you don't deserve that. I love that you said it was over so I hope for your sake it stays that way. Wishing you the best and f your dad and boyfriend.
    via u/Apprehensive-Fee-286

  • It was never going to work between them. If it hadn't been a car it would've been something else – another woman, a job opportunity, who knows. 

  • 25
    No-Distance-9401 Yeah as guy I wouldnt take a gift to leave someone I loved and saw a future with and although Id care the parents didnt like me, it
    via u/No-Distance-9401
  • 26
    wouldnt stop me from dating them, especially at that age I probably would have taken the care and shown up at the house to pick her up honking and shoving it in the dads face that hes an a.
    via u/No-Distance-9401
  • 27
    He took the deal for himself and decided he was the only person he cared about as he could have done the good guy thing and told OP what the fathers offer was and dealt with the situation the correct way.
    via u/No-Distance-9401
  • 28
    OP, he showed you who he is and that you do deserve better which is a blessing in disguise from your overbearing a of a father. Your father may have your best interests at heart but its not
    via u/No-Distance-9401
  • 29
    up to him to decide your life for you and he cant protect you without doing psychological harm which has probably already happened tbh. You will need to have to confront him at some point
    via u/No-Distance-9401
  • 30
    and tell him that he needs to back off and although you appreciate that he loves you, its ok for you to make mistakes and mistakes wont kill you but help you grow as a person.
    via u/No-Distance-9401
  • 31
    Hopefully he can back off, especially when you move out but if Id guess, he wont like the idea of you moving out anytime soon if hes willing to spend thousands of dollars to "help" you from making a tiny mistake like dating the wrong person for a little while.
    via u/No-Distance-9401

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Dating-Relationships boyfriend relationship advice family drama break up relationships parenting girlfriend raising teens couples breakup red flag daughter dating Father
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