A woman and a young boy. | Source: Shutterstock
A woman was left distraught when she learned her husband deceived her for many years. He made her care for a boy, whom she treated as her own, without telling her he was the father. To make matters worse, the child’s mother was their neighbor and good friend.
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A 35-year-old woman and her 38-year-old husband have been together for over 15 years, residing in the same neighborhood for 12 years. They have since made friends in the area, including a woman in her 20s living next door.

A couple smiling at home. | Source: Shutterstock
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During this time, they built a close bond with her and even helped the neighbor when her life took an unexpected turn two years after moving in.

A mom playing with her two kids. | Source: Shutterstock
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The neighbor became a single mother to a boy whose father was a fleeting one-night encounter. To make matters worse, the neighbor faced recurring health issues that led to frequent hospitalizations.

A nurse at the Acibadem Altunizade Hospital, Istanbul, on April 20, 2020. | Source: Getty Images
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As good neighbors and close friends, the couple willingly stepped in to care for her son whenever she couldn’t. Unfortunately, her illness worsened until she couldn’t prevent the inevitable. The neighbor succumbed to her sickness and died after two years.

A tombstone with flowers. | Source: Getty Images
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Her death deeply affected the couple, who had learned to care deeply for the neighbor and her child. As they were already close to the child and had a growing attachment to him, the husband suggested they take care of the young boy.

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The wife was happy to take full responsibility for the child’s upbringing, especially as they had a son whose age difference was not as far. The couple legally became the child’s official guardians and, in time, adopted him as their own.

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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“He is my son as much as my other son that I had with my husband,” the wife said. However, as time passed, she realized that her two boys looked so much like each other. Their resemblance was so strong that the woman began to have suspicions.

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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Unable to ignore her curiosity, she secretly tested the two boys’ DNA. To her heartbreak, the boys were half-siblings, which meant her husband cheated on her with the diseased woman. The young boy was the result of their affair.

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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The woman was left with mixed emotions, grappling with anger, humiliation, and confusion. Still, amidst the events, she knew she loved her husband and both children, creating a dilemma. She said:
“I feel like I am just a tool and that my dignity was stepped upon. It feels like I was not a mother but an idiot who was used like a babysitter for his child.”

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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The woman sought help from the Reddit community, asking for advice regarding her next move. The response she received was overwhelming. Many online forum members acknowledged and validated her emotions, sharing their perspectives on her situation.

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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However, they also stressed the importance of carefully considering and deliberating the complex challenges ahead, especially with two children involved. One Reddit user asked the woman three questions: “Do you want to raise both boys?” “Do you want to stay married?” and “Do you feel he will slight you again in some way?”

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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According to the person, the child’s fate should be made with his well-being in thought, considering he is innocent and should not bear the burden of his parents’ mistake.

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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In addition, the wife must confront the difficult choice of whether she wishes to remain in a relationship with a husband who betrayed her trust in a humiliating and degrading manner. “Trying to break down all the things you are struggling with into separate ideas may help you get some control over it,” the person added.

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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Reddit community members stressed the importance of evaluating her husband’s behavior as he made a fool of her. One user said:
“Divorce him. He played you for a fool. He could have come clean about this and begged your forgiveness. He just lied to your face for years. I doubt he was ever going to tell you. What a selfish monster he is.”

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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The woman later updated her post and said she adopted the boy immediately after taking him under their wing. Officially, she has been his mother since he was seven years old.

Screenshot of comments on Reddit. | Source: Reddit/relationship_advice
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Do you think that the woman made the right decision? What would you have done in her situation?
In a similar story, a woman was supportive of her best friend’s pregnancy and was even present during labor. However, she later discovered that the baby’s father was her husband.
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