I Refused to Share My Inheritance With My Mom— But a Family Secret Left Me Confused

At four, my father vanished without a word, leaving my mother and grandmother to raise me. I moved on, building a life with my partner. Last month, a lawyer revealed my father’s death and his will, leaving me 50% of the apartment he shared with my mother. Furious, she demanded I sign it over, claiming she deserved it for raising me alone. When I refused, she admitted he lived nearby my whole life, running a repair shop just thirty minutes away, yet never contacted me.

Stunned, I’m torn between anger at my father for abandoning me and my mother for hiding the truth. I didn’t ask for this inheritance, but I won’t let guilt decide my next steps. I plan to keep my share as an investment, not to hurt my mother, and seek professional help to process this betrayal.