Every family has its secrets, but some are more shocking than others. In this collection, we’ve gathered unbelievable family stories that people have shared online, and some will truly leave you at a loss for words.

1. When I was 10, I believed my dad had died suddenly. My 21-year-old half-brother, who wasn’t related to my dad, didn’t appear upset and left the country shortly after. Though he called me weekly and kept in touch, I secretly harbored resentment because he seemed indifferent to our dad’s passing.

Years later, while visiting our mom, I overheard her quietly say, «It’s time to give your brother the letters his dad left for him; he’s 18 now.» I confronted them, and my brother retrieved a bundle of letters from his room. He told me they were written by our dad, meant for me to read once I turned 18.

The letters were full of heartfelt advice about life, marriage, and family memories, along with expressions of love. Dad had also written to my brother, asking him to be strong for me, to be a role model during that difficult period. At that moment, I realized why my brother had acted the way he did. He loved our dad deeply but had kept his feelings in check, honoring his promise to stay strong for me.

I also discovered that Dad’s death hadn’t been as sudden as I thought—he had been living with a heart condition but chose not to worry us with the truth. It’s remarkable how easily we misread the intentions of those we love, especially when we’re young.

2. My grandfather spent two years in jail because federal money went missing due to some shady business deals. He wasn’t involved—some higher-ups were—but they needed someone to take the fall, and he wasn’t a big name.

After two long years, his innocence was finally proven, and he was released, but finding a good job afterward was nearly impossible. It was heartbreaking to see a once successful man lose everything. This all happened about 29 years ago, right around when I was born.

3. My uncle’s wife’s sister got pregnant when she was young, so their mom pretended the baby was hers after he was born. Eventually, he discovered that his «sister» was actually his mom, his «mom» was really his grandmother, and his other «sister» was actually his aunt. My family is huge and full of drama, with endless scandals. It’s chaotic, but honestly, I secretly love it.

4. Early in their marriage, my uncle’s wife cheated on him, but they chose to stay together. She later got pregnant, and when the baby was born with a darker skin tone (both my uncle and his wife are white), no one in the family acknowledged it. They now have two other children, both noticeably lighter-skinned than their sibling.

5. When my uncle was in his 20s, he had a daughter with a girlfriend whose family didn’t approve of him. After the baby was born, she moved to the US, remarried, and changed their daughter’s name. For over 20 years, there was no contact. My younger cousins, his children, have no idea that they have an older half-sister who’s nearly twice their age.

6. My mom only recently discovered that she doesn’t share the same father as her five siblings. My grandma confided in one of my aunts and made her promise to keep it a secret. Although my grandma passed away in 2005, my mom didn’t learn the truth until about two years ago.

Grandma didn’t reveal his name, but he was supposedly someone important in Florida. My mom would love to know who he was, mainly for medical reasons. However, since he’s likely deceased, she has no intention of reaching out to his family, who probably have no idea about the affair.

7. My dad’s cousin was born into a wealthy family and received a substantial amount of money from his parents when he got married. He worked as a stockbroker but ended up stealing a significant sum. After that, his wife divorced him, but his parents continue to give him large monthly allowances because his kids are accustomed to a life of luxury.

8. My great-grandfather started three families in three different states: New Mexico or Arizona, Missouri, and Illinois. The twist? He married all of them without ever divorcing any of them.

9. My dad is actually my stepdad. During a break between my parents, my mom had a relationship with another man and got pregnant with me. Since my biological father didn’t want a child and my stepdad loved my mom, everyone thinks he is my biological dad.