I was stunned to see a child in the shelter who looked just like my daughter Olivia—same honey-brown hair, dimples, and even the identical birthmark on her wrist. That moment turned my world upside down.

I’m James, a dad in my thirties to five-year-old Olivia from a previous marriage. My wife, Claire, embraced Olivia wholeheartedly and dreamed of expanding our family. After much discussion, we decided to adopt, believing in giving a child a loving home.

On the morning of our visit to the shelter, Claire’s nervous excitement was palpable. As we arrived, I couldn’t have imagined the revelation waiting for us—a discovery that would challenge everything I thought I knew about my past.