Brother Made My Life Hell, Then Got My Wife Pregnant. Now He... - Best Reddit
TLDRThe narrator recounts his tumultuous relationship with his brother David, who bullied him and eventually had an affair with his wife, Karen, resulting in a child. After discovering the betrayal, the narrator divorces Karen and is awarded the majority of his family's $2 million inheritance, leaving David with only $1. Despite David's pleas for help, the narrator cuts ties, reflecting on the consequences of his brother's actions and the healing process he is undergoing.
Takeaways
- 😔 The narrator's brother, David, has always been the favored child and has shown deep resentment towards him.
- 👨👦 The family dynamic was skewed, with the mother indulging David while the narrator was expected to assist without receiving the same consideration.
- 🤔 David's bullying behavior escalated over time, including serious incidents like attempting to set the narrator's hair on fire.
- 🥊 The narrator's father eventually supported him, leading to the narrator learning MMA to stand up against bullies.
- 💔 The narrator discovered his wife Karen had multiple affairs, one of which was with his brother David, and that his son might be David's.
- 😡 The revelation of Karen's affair with David and the possibility of the child not being the narrator's led to a deep sense of betrayal.
- 📉 The narrator's trust in his wife was irreparably damaged, leading to a decision to divorce and a paternity test confirming David as the child's father.
- 💰 After the divorce, the narrator's father decided to disown David and leave the majority of his estate, nearly $2 million, to the narrator.
- 🚫 David, facing consequences and cut off from family support, reached out to the narrator for help, which was firmly rejected.
- 🔄 The family's perception of David shifted dramatically, with even the mother who once favored him now recognizing his actions as unforgivable.
- 🏡 The narrator is now enjoying a newfound freedom and independence post-divorce, focusing on healing and personal growth.
Q & A
Who is the narrator of the story and what is the main conflict described?
-The narrator is an unnamed individual who has had a tumultuous relationship with his younger brother, David, and later discovers that David had an affair with his wife, leading to a deep family crisis.
How did the narrator's parents initially treat him and his brother David differently?
-The narrator's parents favored David, treating him as the 'Golden Child' of the family. The narrator was expected to assist David without receiving the same consideration in return.
What was the turning point for the narrator's relationship with his father regarding David's behavior?
-The turning point was when David attempted to set the narrator's hair on fire, and their father finally sided with the narrator, threatening to call the police on David and making it clear that David needed to start respecting his older brother.
How did the narrator's father support him after the incident with David?
-The father spoke to the school principal to ensure the bullies were warned about severe consequences, and he enrolled the narrator in MMA classes to help him stand up to bullies.
What significant event led to the narrator's wife, Karen, admitting her infidelity with David?
-The significant event was when Karen revealed that she had been having a long-term affair and suggested that their son might not be the narrator's, leading to the revelation of her affair with David.
How did the narrator's parents react when they found out about David's affair with Karen?
-The parents were shocked and disappointed. The father decided to cut David off financially and from the family, while the mother, although initially defensive, eventually came to accept the truth.
What was the outcome of the paternity test regarding the narrator's son?
-The paternity test confirmed that David was indeed the biological father of the child.
How did the narrator's father plan to change his will in response to David's actions?
-The father planned to leave nearly his entire estate, amounting to around $2 million, to the narrator and leave only $1 to David.
What was the narrator's response when David called him for help after being cut off by their parents?
-The narrator refused to help David, reminding him that he should have thought about the consequences of his actions and that he was no longer considered his brother.
How has the narrator been coping with the aftermath of the family crisis?
-The narrator has been going to therapy, focusing on his work, and enjoying his newfound independence after the divorce.
What was the final update on the situation with David and Karen?
-David had to drop out of college due to financial issues, and he and Karen are living together, raising their child while David works a part-time job as a mechanic.
Outlines
😤 Brother's Betrayal and Family Favoritism
The narrator describes a tumultuous relationship with his younger brother, David, who was the favored child in their family. Despite being the one who received less attention, the narrator was often expected to assist David. David's bullying behavior escalated over time, including physical and emotional abuse. The parents were largely dismissive of the narrator's complaints, with the mother often siding with David and the father being distant. A pivotal moment occurred when the father finally intervened after David nearly set the narrator's hair on fire, leading to a temporary change in family dynamics and the narrator learning self-defense.
💔 Unfaithful Wife and Brother's Deceit
The narrator recounts his journey from university, where he met his wife Karen, to the discovery of her infidelity. Karen had affairs, one of which was with the narrator's brother, David, resulting in the birth of a child who might not be the narrator's. The betrayal by both his wife and brother led to the narrator confronting Karen and later David, culminating in a divorce and a paternity test that confirmed David as the child's biological father. The narrator's parents, upon learning the truth, cut off David financially and emotionally.
😡 Brother's Downfall and Family's Response
After being cut off by their parents, David attempts to reach out to the narrator for help, but the narrator refuses, highlighting the consequences of David's actions. The family, including the narrator's mother who had previously favored David, now distances themselves from him. The narrator's father is particularly strict in his punishment, cutting David off from financial support and family ties. The narrator finds a sense of vindication in these events, as the family dynamics have shifted significantly.
🏡 Post-Divorce Life and Family Reconciliation
The narrator details his post-divorce life, which includes a period of adjustment to living alone and a newfound independence. His relationship with his parents improves, particularly with his father, with whom he shares a close bond. The narrator's mother, though missing David, respects the family's decision to distance themselves from him. The narrator's father plans to change his will to disinherit David, leaving the majority of his estate to the narrator. The narrator also confronts his mother about her communication with David, leading to a potential marital crisis for his parents.
🔄 Moving Forward and Personal Growth
In the final paragraph, the narrator discusses the improvements in his relationship with his parents and the positive changes in his personal life, including a job promotion. He has chosen not to engage in new relationships as he continues to heal from past betrayals. The narrator's mother has maintained her distance from David, and the family has effectively cut him out. The narrator's brother, David, is struggling financially and has had to drop out of college, now working as a mechanic and co-parenting with Karen. The narrator has found a sense of peace and is focusing on his own well-being and therapy.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Resentment
💡Favoritism
💡Bullying
💡Inheritance
💡Affair
💡Paternity
💡Divorce
💡Vindication
💡Independence
💡Consequences
💡Loyalty
Highlights
Brother David harbored resentment towards the narrator despite being the favored child in the family.
David's bullying escalated to physical harm and invasion of privacy, with the parents largely dismissing the narrator's concerns.
The narrator's father eventually took action against David's behavior, leading to a shift in family dynamics.
The narrator's life changed after learning MMA, gaining the confidence to stand up to David.
David's behavior continued to worsen, leading to further estrangement from the narrator.
The narrator met his wife Karen at university, and they married after discovering she was pregnant.
The narrator discovered Karen's infidelity and chose to forgive her to maintain a stable family environment.
A shocking revelation: Karen's long-term affair was with David, and their son might be David's child.
The narrator confronted Karen and David, leading to the exposure of their affair and the truth about the child's paternity.
The narrator's parents cut David off financially and emotionally after learning about his actions.
The narrator divorced Karen, and a paternity test confirmed David as the child's biological father.
The narrator's father planned to leave his entire estate to the narrator, cutting David out completely.
David, facing financial and familial ruin, reached out to the narrator for help, which was rejected.
The narrator's mother was revealed to have been in contact with David, causing tension within the family.
The narrator's life improved significantly after the divorce, focusing on his career and personal well-being.
David's life took a turn for the worse, dropping out of college and working a part-time job.
The narrator's relationship with his parents improved, especially with his father, who became a confidant.