I Learned a Shocking Truth About My Son and Had to Remove Him from My Will

Our reader David sent us an emotional letter, filled with pain and despair. His life was turned upside down in an instant when he learned something about his 18-year-old son that led him to even remove his son from his will.

David shared his story with us.

David began his letter with these words: “Hello. I never thought I’d find myself in a situation like this, questioning everything I thought I knew about my family. My wife, Linda, and I have been married for almost 20 years, and our son, Jake, has always been the joy of our lives. With him recently turning 18, we were excited to see him embrace adulthood, full of promise and potential.

Linda and I have always shared a strong bond. Despite facing various challenges over the years, we’ve always tackled them together. So, when Linda approached me recently with a serious expression, I was unprepared for what she was about to reveal. She told me she needed to discuss something important—something she had been keeping to herself for a long time.”

His wife made an unexpected revelation.

David continued, "Linda revealed that Jake isn’t biologically mine. She admitted that she had an affair with her ex before we were married, and she didn’t discover she was pregnant until after we had already tied the knot. At the time, she was overwhelmed and chose to keep it a secret, hoping it would never come to light.

Linda assured me that she had never seen her ex again after that. I was devastated and asked, 'Why are you telling me this now?' She said she had never planned to tell me, but something had happened that forced her to come clean.

She explained, 'His biological father has passed away.' A few weeks ago, Linda received a letter from her ex’s lawyer. The letter revealed that her ex had recently learned about Jake and, before his death, had arranged a significant inheritance for both Linda and Jake. The lawyer explained that her ex wanted to ensure Jake would be cared for, despite never having been a part of his life."

David was hurt and confused at the same time.

David revealed, "When Linda shared this with me, it felt as though the ground had been pulled out from under me. I was in shock, unable to believe what I was hearing. For 18 years, I had been convinced that Jake was my son in every way. I’ve been there for all his milestones—his first steps, his first day of school, teaching him to drive. And now, learning that he isn’t biologically mine shattered me.

Linda said she could no longer keep this secret, especially with the inheritance now on the table. She wanted us to confront the truth together and figure out our next steps. I was overwhelmed with anger, hurt, and confusion. Part of me wanted to walk away, to shut down and leave it all behind. Yet, another part of me knew that Jake is still the same boy I’ve loved and raised for 18 years."

David decided to remove Jake out of his will.

David continued, "In the days that followed, I found myself questioning everything. How could Linda have kept this from me? What does this mean for my relationship with Jake? I know he isn’t biologically mine, but in every other way, he’s been my son. The betrayal I felt, however, was profound and hard to ignore. I made the painful decision to remove Jake from my will, reasoning that with the new inheritance from his biological father, he would be financially secure.

Even as I made this decision, I understood it wasn’t just about the money. It was about the trust that had been broken and the life I thought I knew that was now in question. Linda insists she did what she thought was best at the time and deeply regrets her actions. But now, I’m left grappling with whether I can ever move past this and rebuild the trust that has been so severely damaged."

David now suffers mixed feelings towards his son.

David concluded, "Jake still doesn’t know the full story, and I’m torn about whether to tell him. As he’s on the brink of adulthood, I don’t want to overwhelm him with this right as he’s beginning his own life. Yet, I also believe he deserves to know the truth, even if it’s painful.

I’m at a loss, - how do I move forward from this? Did I make the right choice, or am I letting my emotions cloud my judgment? What should I do?"

Here’s what our readers suggested.

• No issues tell your son the truth, tell him that as far as you have always been concerned is that he is yours, you would protect him with your life if necessary. Your love for him will never waver. And let him take the money, win-win. © SarahTim Rootes / Facebook
• He is your son. U raised him. U love him and he u. It’s not his fault what his mother did. Why destroy your relationship with him. Let this go, and see a councillor re the betrayal. Put him back in the will. It’s not his fault. This is sad for u. Don’t let it destroy a great relationship with your son. © Lesley Bowden / Facebook
• You raise as your own you both love each father and son, why disown him he can’t help what his mother done or do the father son don’t have good relationships with each other. © Kde FLAMINGH / Facebook
• And this is why paternity test at birth should just be the norm. If you know without the shadow of the doubt your man is the father, you should have no problem with a standard test. Too many women will say if he doesn’t trust me we shouldn’t be together, but are the same women going through his phone. Nope test should be the norm. © Christina R. Sanchez-Jiménez / Facebook
• Leave the wife, and keep the son. He is your child, you raised him. © Ferenc Végh / Facebook

Here’s an even more astonishing story about a woman who discovered that she is not the biological mother of her child.