Well, a couple of weeks ago, I discovered that my wife had cheated on me 6 years ago. Her sister disclosed this after I visited her to inquire about the birth of her first child. She confessed that 6 years ago, my wife, while intoxicated, had slept with her best friend and felt very remorseful.
Upon learning this, I immediately took a paternity test with my son, fearing the worst. A week later, the results confirmed my fears: the boy is not mine. This revelation changed how I saw him, shifting from viewing him as a son to more of an acquaintance. Armed with proof, I confronted my wife one night when the child was asleep. She inquired about my source, to which I responded it was none of her concern, although she would soon deduce it was her sister. However, that was the least of my concerns.
Subsequently, I asked for a divorce, now in process. Despite her being “devastated” and asserting her fidelity since the incident, I struggled to believe her, noting her tendency to blame alcohol rather than accept personal responsibility.
During our discussion, she threatened to seek full custody of the child. Frustrated, I declared that she could keep the child, and I would retain our dogs. Following my outburst, she attempted to persuade me to co-parent, but overwhelmed with anger, I vehemently refused.
A week has since passed. I remain in my home, a gift from my parents, while she has moved to her parents’ house with the child and hasn’t contacted me since. This altercation, especially my yelling, which was a first, undoubtedly impacted her.
I’ve sought support from my family and am currently undergoing therapy, which emphasizes the importance of moving past sources of pain. Although I concur with my family’s stance on not raising a child not biologically mine, the emotional toll persists.
The revelation by my sister-in-law stemmed from guilt over witnessing my bond with my son, coupled with a moment of vulnerability on her part. Presently, I harbor intense animosity towards my wife and a mix of pain and resentment towards the child. Nevertheless, I’m focused on moving forward.
I am hopeful for a smooth divorce process. We have separate finances and properties, and I possess evidence disproving my paternity, which my lawyer assures is significant. My therapist has advised against seeing my wife and the child, stressing the importance of prioritizing my well-being over the child’s, to facilitate healing.
