My Ex-Husband’s Son from His Second Marriage Fell Ill, and He Asked Me for Financial Help—I Declined!

Author Mitsuko NagasakiReading 4 minViews 1

12December2025

Dear Diary,

Im 37 now and have been single for a decade, ever since James left me. He cheated, and I never forgave him. Hes since moved in with his new wife, Charlotte, who was pregnant with his son Oliver after their whirlwind romance. They tied the knot, had the baby, and I simply cut off all contact. I have no idea what goes on in their world.

My own finances are solid I earn a good salary as a senior analyst in London, and a few weeks ago I finally sold the cottage I inherited from my grandmother in the Cotswolds. The sale brought in a tidy sum, just over £250,000. Id been thinking about finally getting a proper car perhaps a classic Austin Mini but first I need to learn to drive properly, and time is scarce. I hadnt decided what to do with the money yet, and I wasnt in any rush to part with it.

Then, out of the blue, James turned up at my office in Manchester. We hadnt spoken in years, so seeing his familiar face caught me off guard. He launched straight into the news: Oliver had been diagnosed with cancer, and the treatment would be expensive. He and Charlotte were short of cash, so hed come to me for help.

He reminded me of the house sale, hoping Id hand over a portion of the proceeds. It was perfectly timed, he thought. I was still mulling over whether to buy that car or save for a rainy day, and the amount he was asking was a respectable chunk of my windfall.

He pleaded, You have no idea how desperate we are! as if my feelings mattered. He never once considered how his actions had affected me, nor those of his new family. I remembered how, during the divorce, we split everything down the middle. He even tried to claim the flat Id bought before we married, insisting it should go back to him for his new household. I kept it, and that saved me a great deal of trouble.

He said if I didnt believe him, he could produce all the medical documents. I told him I didnt need any paperwork; I wasnt going to entertain his requests. He begged, swore hed pay everything back, and reminded me that Olivers rehabilitation would cost a fortune too. Honestly, I doubted Id ever see a penny returned.

When I asked why he didnt just go to the bank, his face turned red and he started shouting, even offering that I should crawl on my knees for him. I refused. Why should I debase myself? I have no desire to keep any part of his life, especially after the betrayal. He threatened to come back once Id calmed down and thought it over, but theres nothing left to think about.

Perhaps I seem coldhearted. The truth is, I want to control my own money and not share it with anyone who has shown me no respect. After the conversation I felt a pang of guilt, but Im convinced that refusing him is the lesson he needs a payment for the wrongs hes committed.

So Im keeping the cash, planning my own future, and letting James and Charlotte face their own battles. Tomorrow Ill testdrive that Mini and see if Im ready to finally get behind the wheel.

Emma

For about a year, my son had been living with Kate, yet we’d never met her parents—which seemed odd to me, so I decided to look into it I’ve always tried to raise my son to respect women above all—the women in his life: his grandmother, his mother, his wife, his daughter. In my opinion, there’s no finer quality in a man than respect for women. My husband and I made sure our son had an excellent upbringing and education, equipping him with everything he’d need for a smooth journey through life. We never wanted to help him out too much, but even so, we bought him a two-bedroom flat. Although he had a job and supported himself, he couldn’t quite afford a home of his own. We didn’t give him the flat right away—in fact, we didn’t even tell him we’d bought it. And why? Our son was living with his girlfriend, after all. For about a year, our son had been sharing his life with Kate, but we’d never met her parents, and I found that strange. Later, I discovered that Kate’s mother used to be a neighbour of one of my friends. She told me something that left me with a bad feeling. It turns out Kate’s mother threw her husband out when his income dropped—but the real drama was only just beginning… The mother then started seeing a married, but wealthy man. Kate’s grandmother, like her daughter, also had a relationship with a married man, and even forced both her daughter and granddaughter to go work on his country estate. Because of all this, my son had already had multiple run-ins with his future mother-in-law. But what unsettled me most about this story is that both the mother and grandmother were driving a wedge between Kate and her father. It’s clear the girl loves her dad, but because of these two women, her relationship with him is at risk. And to top it all off, Kate has decided to drop out of her studies. She believes a man should provide for the family. I see her point—I’ve raised my son to do just that—but heaven forbid they ever face hardship. Who’s to say what will happen if life throws them a curveball? How will she support her husband in tough times? By the way, I transferred the flat back into my name, since I know I’ve raised a gentle soul, as the saying goes. And yes, everything acquired before marriage isn’t split in a divorce—but I have a feeling Kate is clever enough to leave my ‘gentleman’ with nothing but his socks.

— Needless to Say, This Is All My Fault! — My Boyfriend’s Sister Sobs, “I Couldn’t Have Imagined Something Like This Would Happen!” Now I Don’t Know What to Do, or How I’ll Manage Without Completely Losing Face My Boyfriend’s Sister Got Married a Few Years Ago. After the Wedding, It Was Decided the Newlyweds Would Live with Her Husband’s Mother. His Parents Have a Spacious Three-Bedroom Flat and Only One Son. “You Can Have Two Rooms, I’ll Keep One!” Promised the Mother-in-Law. “We’re All Decent People—I’m Sure We’ll Get Along Just Fine.” “We Can Always Find Our Own Place Later!” Her Husband Said, “But I Don’t See Any Harm in Trying to Live with My Mum. If It Doesn’t Work, We Can Always Move Out…” That’s Exactly What Happened. As It Turned Out, Living Together Wasn’t So Easy. Both Daughter-in-Law and Mother-in-Law Tried, but Things Got Worse Each Day. Tensions Boiled Over Now and Then, and the Arguments Grew More Frequent. “You Said If It Didn’t Work, We’d Move Out!” His Wife Cried to Him. “Well, Haven’t We Managed So Far?” His Mum Responded Dismissively. “These Are Just Trivialities—Hardly Reason to Pack Your Bags.” Exactly a Year After the Wedding, She Became Pregnant and Delivered a Healthy Baby Boy. The Baby’s Birth Coincided with Her Mother-in-Law Taking Early Retirement and Struggling to Find a New Job—No One Wants to Hire an Older Woman. So Daughter-in-Law and Mother-in-Law Stared at Each Other All Day, with Nowhere Else to Go. The Home Atmosphere Soured Quickly. The Husband Just Shrugged and Listened to the Complaints—He Was the Only Breadwinner. “We Can’t Move Out Yet—My Mum Can’t Support Herself. I Can’t Leave Her, and I Can’t Afford Both Rent and Helping Mum. Once She Finds Something, We’ll Move!” But His Wife’s Patience Was Exhausted. She Packed for Herself and the Baby and Moved Back to Her Own Mum’s. Before Leaving, She Told Her Husband She’d Never Set Foot in His Mother’s House Again. If He Cared About His Family, He’d Figure Something Out. She Expected That, Because He Loved His Family, He’d Try Straight Away to Win Her Back. But She Was Very Much Mistaken. It’s Been Over Three Months Since She Moved Out, and He Hasn’t Even Tried to Bring Her Back. Instead, He’s Living Comfortably with His Mum, Video Calling Wife and Child After Work, and Visiting on the Weekends at His Mother-in-Law’s. He’s Enjoying the Care of Two Women at Once, and—other than the occasional weekend—doesn’t even have to look after his son. His Life’s a Win! And the Mother-in-Law, frankly, hasn’t lost a thing! Meanwhile, the Young Woman Feels Miserable. She Loves Her Husband, Even Knowing He’s Doing Wrong. “What Did You Expect When You Left?” The Husband Shrugs, “You Can Come Back Whenever You Want.” It’s Obvious the Wife Has No Intention—or Ability—to Move into a Flat Alone, Especially as a New Mum on Maternity Leave. Is This Really the End of Their Family? What Do You Think—Does She Have Even the Slightest Chance of Returning to Her Mother-in-Law’s Home Without Completely Losing Face?