I found my job as a ‘father figure’ annoying until I fell in love with him – people say I’m a ‘gold digger’ but I don’t care, he’s 24 years older than me

A woman says she is madly in love with a man 24 years her senior and vows to ‘stay with him’ despite criticism from her family and online trolls.

Realyn Solero, 29, from the Philippines, said she saw Reynaldo Maquinay Jr., 53, as a “father figure” and found him “annoying”; the two first met when they worked for the same company.

Realyn, a virtual assistant, said she repeatedly rejected Reynaldo’s attempts at romance because she “didn’t like him,” but his persistence soon made the mother of one “fall in love” with the machine technician.

The couple sealed their love with marriage two years ago, but despite being together for nine years, they say family and strangers have not yet accepted the age difference and accuse Realyn of being after his wealth.

‘At first he was persistent in showing his feelings, which bored “Me,” said Realyn.

Realyn Solero, 29, says she’s totally in love with Reynaldo Maquinay Jr, 53 (pictured: the couple at Realyn’s graduation ceremony)

Realyn and Reynaldo Maquinay Jr, both from the Philippines, have been together for nine years

However, he continued to show a caring nature that I had not experienced in my previous relationships [and] as the months went by i realized i had fallen in love with him’.

Realyn claims that her new partner gave her the attention, kindness and care she had never experienced before, and before she knew it, she and Reynaldo were obsessed with each other.

Although her family accuses her of being a gold-digger, Realyn claims that in reality there is no gold to be found at all.

“There were unnecessary comments made because I already had a child,” Realyn explains.

‘Friends and family thought I wasn’t serious about the relationship and that I would leave him as soon as I got what I wanted from him, which they said was money.

‘They didn’t know that he had no savings, no businesses, nothing. He was just a regular employee of the company.

“I finally made them see that they were wrong about me and him. He is a good, responsible man.”

She also revealed that her 11-year-old daughter, Rhianna Jane Solero, from a previous relationship, is crazy about Reynaldo.

The mother of one said she initially saw Reynaldo as a “father figure” and found him “annoying”

She also revealed that her 11-year-old daughter, Rhianna Jane Solero, from a previous relationship, idolizes Reynaldo. (Pictured: Realyn, Reynaldo and Realyn’s daughter, Rhianna, when she was younger)

She added: ‘He shows me the way on the right path and above all he is a good and responsible stepfather to my child.’

“He treats my daughter like she’s his own and it makes me fall in love with him even more.”

As if the judgment from friends and family wasn’t enough, the couple also had to deal with negative comments from strangers and online trolls.

Yet Realyn remains steadfast and continues to insist that she does not ‘owe’ anyone an ‘explanation’.

“In the beginning I found it very difficult because I was usually the one getting criticized,” she says.

‘I’m the one being judged and a lot of people think I’m after his money and benefits. But I know the truth, I know I love him, so I got used to the comments and learned to ignore them.

The couple met while working at the same company and sealed their love with marriage two years ago (the couple pictured during the early stages of their romance)

Realyn revealed that the two ‘often argue over selecting designs, colors, movies to watch and places to travel to’

‘Now when I read or hear unnecessary comments about me or our relationship, I just smile or ignore them.’

Criticism of their romance is just one of the challenges the couple faces. The nearly three-decade age gap has also caused chaos in their personal lives.

“Because we’re 24 years older, his interests are totally different from mine,” Realyn explains. “Hobbies, movies, fashion, everything!” she continues.

‘We often discuss selecting designs, colours, films to watch and places to travel. But little by little we have learned how to adapt.’

Now the mother of one says it’s best to be with an older man that this had happened to her and she couldn’t be happier.

She said, ‘I have learned a lot from him. He is not only a husband to me, but also a father who always reminds me what is right and wrong.

“He is very understanding and never gets angry.”

Realyn said her family and strangers are still not used to the age difference and have accused Realyn of being after her husband’s wealth (Pictured: A video recording of Realyn and Reynaldo having fun together)

She concluded with some advice for women considering following in her footsteps.

Her advice to other women in a similar situation is, “Stay with your man” and ignore what other people think.

She added: ‘Don’t worry about what other people think of you or your relationship.

You don’t owe them an explanation and besides, you and your partner are the only thing that matters.

“As long as you love each other, age is not an issue. Just focus on your goal and your family and make them realize that they are wrong in what they think of you or your relationship.”