The only heirs to the man’s vast fortune were his children, who grew up in luxury. However, in a cruel turn of events, none of them received a cent of their fortune after the long-kept secret was discovered.
Inheriting a deceased loved one can be a blessing for some, but not for everyone, as Redditor account New Reply 1901 shows when he went to the “AITA” thread on Reddit to get an “outsider’s perspective.”
The 27-year-old’s family was rocked by an unexpected event in 2019 and everything changed when he was revealed as the recipient of a portion of his late uncle’s inheritance that no one knew about.
The guy’s uncle had a prosperous career in business. A few years after graduating from college, he married his girlfriend shortly after she became pregnant with their first child, Brad, 29. Because of the uncle’s financial prosperity, Jessica (26) and Lauren (23) were the couple’s other two children.
The man eventually admitted that despite his aunt’s inability to pay for his uncle’s funeral, he never reported the funds. The guy’s aunt was very interested in her looks and her material things because she was a stay-at-home mother who married a rich man. As they got older, Brad, Jesicca and Lauren followed in her footsteps, which is when the problem got worse.
Brad and Jessica worked but lived beyond their means and often needed their father to take care of them. Cousins often made fun of other family members for missing their privileges.
For his uncle’s sake, the nephew’s family put up with their pranks while he hated their attitude. On the contrary, the uncle was a really nice man. He always put his family first and did everything in his power to support them. As long as his nephew maintained good grades, he paid for college “as a gift” without expecting payment.
Everything was looking great until the real bombshell hit in 2019 when he learned of his wife’s on-and-off extramarital affair with a gentleman from high school. The uncle was devastated by the news and felt compelled to have their children’s DNA tested.
He had his children tested twice and each time the results showed that he was not their biological father. Brad and Lauren were born to his wife’s lover, but Jessica’s father was never identified.
The uncle was horrified to discover that despite his desire, he could not divorce his wife because she was unemployed and no prenuptial agreement had been signed. If he went ahead with the divorce, he feared he would have to give her everything.
He limited himself to his stress and as a result lived in disarray. He left his family with huge credit card debt and died soon after, having spent all his money on charity and the people he loved. In the process, his wife and her children ended up bankrupt.
Their house was put up for sale and they lost the wealth they had previously boasted about. Meanwhile, the nephew kept quiet about the unexpected “gift” his late uncle gave him.
It turned out that the man’s uncle had decided not to let him go without a fight. Before he died, he gave his nephew $60,000 as a “gift” so that his nephew would pay almost no taxes.
Eventually the man got his money, but he didn’t talk about it because he saw his cousins begging for money.
Especially after it was discovered that they were not his uncle’s children, he felt that they were not related to him.
For his uncle’s sake, the nephew felt that his aunt and cousin were “just the rude people” he saw and put up with.
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byu/New_Reply_1901 from discussion
inAmItheAsshole
He chose to keep quiet about his finances and instead asked strangers on the internet if he was to blame.
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byu/New_Reply_1901 from discussion
inAmItheAsshole
Many Redditors agreed that the man was not wrong in this case. “You own the money. It was a gift you were given. Beavertails 11, the most popular commenter on the web, claimed that ‘your uncle gave you the money for several reasons.’
User zelí9988 concurred that the man’s family, especially his cousin, were adults who could support themselves. “Unless there were instances where they helped you that you didn’t mention, you don’t owe them anything,” the user wrote.
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byu/New_Reply_1901 from discussion
inAmItheAsshole
Multiple individuals stated that it wasn’t the OP’s fault that he kept the money for himself as the conversation escalated. Redditor 5115E was one of them and she said:
“Keep your mouth shut and lead a hidden existence. To help you assign your own medium and long-term goals, see a financial advisor.”
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byu/New_Reply_1901 from discussion
inAmItheAsshole
OP said he couldn’t accept his aunt and her kids as family because they weren’t related to him and that he thought family was about more than just DNA.
He had no idea why his uncle hadn’t left any money for his wife and children, but he figured he might have done it to ensure his wife would never need financial help.
The man eventually admitted that despite his aunt’s inability to pay for his uncle’s funeral, he never reported the funds.
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byu/New_Reply_1901 from discussion
inAmItheAsshole
“I was thinking of giving them some $60,000, but I’m afraid they’ll ask where I got the money from and how they can get it back to my uncle’s widow and her children,” he said.
If you liked this story, check out this one about how a rich man’s daughter caused trouble in the family by requesting that all her siblings take a DNA test after two of them were found not to be the father’s.
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byu/New_Reply_1901 from discussion
inAmItheAsshole
In closing, a story shared by Redditor New Reply 1901 highlights the complexity of family dynamics and the moral dilemmas that can arise as a result of an unexpected inheritance. After uncovering his late uncle’s secret legacy, a twenty-seven-year-old man grapples with questions of loyalty, responsibility, and justice.
The uncle’s decision to leave his wife and children broke and at the same time give a considerable sum to his nephew raises ethical considerations about the division of property and family obligations. Despite the strained relationship between the nephew and his cousins, exacerbated by their entitled behavior and lack of empathy, the nephew eventually decides to keep the inheritance for himself.
The decision sparked debate among strangers online, with many expressing support for the son’s choice to prioritize his own financial security and future goals. While some argued that he had a moral obligation to share the inheritance with his aunt and cousins, others argued that he owed them nothing, especially given the circumstances surrounding his uncle’s actions.
Ultimately, the story serves as a reminder of the complexity of family relationships and the importance of navigating them with empathy, integrity, and careful consideration. The Nephew’s Dilemma prompts reflection on the nature of inheritance, family obligations, and the moral responsibility of recipients.
As the nephew grapples with his decision and considers the implications of his inheritance, the story challenges readers to consider their own values and beliefs regarding wealth, family, and ethical responsibility. It serves as a thought-provoking narrative that resonates with themes of loyalty, betrayal and enduring kinship bonds.