When a woman decided to separate from her husband due to his unfaithfulness, she ended up losing custody of her daughter. Over the years, her daughter, convinced that her mother was in the wrong, refused any contact with her.

It wasn’t until the daughter faced financial difficulties paying for college that she reached out to her mother again.

In early 2022, a woman in her mid-forties shared her emotional journey anonymously online. She described how she once thought herself fortunate to marry a prosperous man who generously supported her family. He showered her parents with luxurious gifts, paid off her sister’s debts, and even helped her brother land a high-paying job by getting him an interview at a well-regarded company.

Her husband’s charm and generosity made him a favorite with her family, who often sided with him during turbulent times in their marriage, including the first time he was unfaithful. This transgression occurred shortly after she gave birth to their child, Kelly.

Despite the betrayal, she initially chose to leave but was persuaded by her family to stay. They argued that Kelly needed a stable upbringing with both parents. Convinced by their advice, she remained, thinking she may not have been the best partner during her pregnancy and early motherhood stages.

Eventually, she resolved to proceed with a divorce. However, her in-laws and parents discouraged this, fearing a scandal and the potential loss of her husband’s benevolence. Ignoring their wishes, she finalized the divorce but lost custody because her husband hired top lawyers and had familial support. She did secure alimony and a fair settlement. Despite this, attempts to maintain a relationship with Kelly were thwarted as she was depicted in a negative light to her daughter by both family sides. They painted her as hypocritical for not accepting her ex-husband’s remorseful apologies.

As Kelly grew into her teenage years, her belief that her mother was the villain became more ingrained, leading to a complete refusal to engage with her.

Turning to her best friend, Tina, the woman found immense comfort and much-needed support. As years went by, she did not cease trying to reconnect with Kelly. Meanwhile, she picked herself up, entered the accountancy profession, and secured a successful career for herself.

Conversely, her ex-husband encountered numerous setbacks. He lost his job and was entangled in a lawsuit initiated by an employee. Despite these setbacks, he maintained a lavish lifestyle, squandering all his resources, including the money intended for Kelly’s college education.

Kelly’s motivation to reconnect at 21 seemed financially driven. Her mother expressed bittersweet feelings, realizing that her daughter’s interest might be money-related. Nonetheless, she agreed to finance Kelly’s graduate school tuition on condition that Kelly sign a contract renouncing her claim as an heir. The woman decided she wanted to leave most of her estate to Laura, Tina’s daughter, who had become like a daughter to her over recent years.

Laura, now 18 and also her goddaughter, seemed to have a more genuine bond with her compared to Kelly. Despite this financial arrangement causing a rift, a few relatives advised her to divide her assets equally. She hesitated though, as she feared equating their relationship to mere financial transactions would ruin any chance at genuine reconciliation with Kelly.