10 Family Secrets That Could Tear a Novelist’s Heart Out (2025)

• In2015, mymother gifted meour grandma’s gold locket. She made mepromise never toopenit. Today, mysister asked, “Did you ever look inside? Isaw Grandma put something initbefore she died.” Iopened the clasp, and inside was atiny photo: our mother, just ateen, holding ababy. The date onthe back said 1988—years before she met Dad orhad any ofus.

  When Iasked mom aboutit, she broke down intears. Imagine myshock whenI found out that she’d gotten pregnant asateenager and put the baby upfor adoption, swearing Grandma tosecrecy.

  Before she died, Grandma asked her togive methe locket—saying the photo ofmylittle brother would keep mesafe. Mom hadn’t wanted metohaveit, but inthe end, she honored her mother’s final wish.

  And that’s how, thanks toGrandma, IlearnedI have asecret brother—now 37years old.

• Ifound out about seven months ago that the “dad” listed onmybirth certificate isn’t mybiological father. Mybiological mother refuses totell mewho heis. Idon’t understand why she and mynon-biological father could have lied tomefor solong. He’s called mehis daughter mywhole life.
  Iwas adopted atbirth but have known mybiological family mywhole life. I’m 26now, andI just want toknow mymedical history. Ifeel soangry and hurt.©Maleficent_Light1340/ Reddit

• My aunt had a child when she was very young and still lived in another country. After she moved to the U.S. and left her child in the other country, she got married. Her current husband does not know that she has a child. © senzafine1 / Reddit

• In 2012, my husband took my 14-year-old son on a 3-day fishing trip. They sent me postcards from there. Recently, I found those cards and mentioned to my son how proud his dad had been of that trip. My son looked at me and said, "Mom, we didn’t go fishing. Take a closer look at the postcards. Dad was actually looking for a place to move out. The fishing trip was just an excuse."
  I looked closely and was horrified to notice a small brand stamp indicating they were from a state far away—nowhere near where I thought they had gone. Suddenly, everything clicked. It explained why, not long after that trip, my husband decided to separate and move out.
  At the time, the news of our separation was shocking, but discovering this now cuts even deeper. For years, I had cherished the memory of that “fishing trip,” believing it was one of their final father-and-son bonding moments before our marriage ended. But now I know the truth—my husband was already searching for apartments, and my son knew about it and even helped him. That revelation has made the memory feel like a betrayal, and the pain feels fresh all over again.

• Mygrandmother has always been mean toher oldest daughter (mymom’s sister). She would constantly belittle and criticize her. Even whenI was akid, Ithought she was being somean toher for noreason atall. Ijust assumed she played favorites with her children toanextreme degree.
  When Iwas about 20, Ilearned that mygrandmother had conceived myaunt out ofwedlock, before meeting and marrying mygrandfather. She was mean toher because she didn’t like being reminded ofthat part ofher past. Ihad already lost respect for her whenI thought she was being mean tomyaunt for noreason. When Ifound out the real reason, Ilost even more respect for her.
  ©uh_oh_hotdog/ Reddit

• I grew up thinking my father abandoned me and my mom. But years later, far into adulthood, I learned from my grandma that my mom left my dad and didn't allow him to see me so she could extort money from him. To this day, I still don't have a relationship with him. © 12Fatcat / Reddit

• My dad had a kid with his first wife's best friend, and it took 20 years for it to surface. My mom was the babysitter for my dad's first two kids while he was married to his first wife; she was 15, and he was 23.
  I have a half-sister who is 2 weeks younger than me, and I found out about her by discovering child support papers when I was 16. Her sister's dad is our uncle, so she is also our cousin. Remember, my parents are still together. © Slade645 / Reddit

• After my dad died, his best friend stepped up and helped out my mom. He's been a great family friend since I was young. It's been about 12 years since my dad passed, and I just found out a month ago that for about 8 years, my mom and my dad's best friend have been dating.
  I always suspected it but assumed, since no one told me anything, nothing was happening. Turns out, no. My mom still has no idea I have a clue that they're together. © Mooooofasa / Reddit

• When Iwas8, someone left apair ofused baby shoes onour porch. Myparents had noidea who put itthere, butI recall Mom crying when she sawit. Dad always said that itwas aprank.
  Last year, Dad passed away. Mom came tomeand revealed that she had given birth toababy boy when she was 16and had abandoned the child. She never told Dad about itout offear that hewould leave her. She said those were the shoes her baby was wearing the night she gave him away. Itried tofind myhalf-brother but couldn’t. Iam still searching for him.

• When I was a kid, my dad cheated on my mother and had a kid with the new woman who would become my stepmom.
  I went over occasionally and never paid it much mind, but my "sister" had blond hair her entire life. My dad said it was because he had blond hair as a kid. Fast-forward 10 years, and surprise—she more than likely wasn't carrying his child. Big surprise that the woman you cheated on your wife with wasn’t faithful either, huh? © Boomerwell / Reddit

Families may carry secrets, but they also hold our greatest sources ofcomfort. These 13stories beautifully reveal how family islife’s truest treasure.