My name is Lisa, I’m 42, and I’ve been married to Jeff for 12 years. I have a 14-year-old son from a prior marriage, and Jeff has an 18-year-old son from his first marriage. Jeff has raised my son since he was two, as his biological father was mostly absent.
A week ago, my son’s dad passed away—and left a substantial inheritance to him. I’m managing it until my son turns 18. Soon after, Jeff—who’s not in a great financial place—asked me to fund his son’s college with that money.
I refused. I told him, “Raising my son doesn’t entitle you to his inheritance.” He fired back—“I treated your kid as my own—this is how you thank me?” Then, more chillingly, “You won’t be happy with the outcome!”
We didn’t speak the rest of the night. The next morning, I found a written bill on the table: a tally of every expense Jeff had covered for my son—clothes, trips, and more—since he was two. Jeff said, “Your kid is mine,” but now he wanted repayment.
It felt absurd. Yes, he’s been part of our lives—but using my son’s inheritance to remedy financial issues? It felt like betrayal. I’m torn: am I unreasonable or protecting what’s rightfully mine?
