At a father’s funeral, something unexpected happened. His children were left in disbelief when they discovered that a complete stranger was the sole beneficiary of his estate. The father’s decision to forsake his own kin left everyone wondering what could have compelled him to make such a choice.

On September 22, 2023, a woman, aged 55, shared her story on the popular “AITA” subreddit. She had been married to her 60-year-old husband for two decades before he passed away from cancer. He had two children from a previous marriage, who were in their early teens when the couple got together. The woman had a seven-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, and they didn’t have any children together.

The stepmother had always tried her best to treat her stepchildren as her own, but they never fully embraced her. Instead, they were consistently rude, accusing her of being a gold digger who only married their father for his money.

However, what the children didn’t know was that their stepmother had actually inherited a substantial sum from her wealthy grandparents. She was financially independent and didn’t need her husband’s money. She deliberately kept this information from her stepchildren because she didn’t want them to view her in terms of potential financial gain.

Despite her financial independence, the husband disapproved of his children’s behavior and their disrespect towards his wife. Their hurtful conduct even led him to refuse to pay for their college tuition. As a result, they were forced to take out loans to finance their education, as their mother couldn’t afford to help them.

This strained relationship continued to deteriorate over time, even during the husband’s battle with cancer. The children refused to visit him, while the woman’s own daughter occasionally made the effort to visit when possible.

During this difficult time, the only significant assistance came from an unrelated person – a waitress in her late twenties who worked at a café the couple often visited. She was a single mother attending community college, balancing work, and raising her two children. This compassionate waitress provided invaluable support and became the daughter figure the couple always wished they had.

Tragically, on the day of the funeral, the husband’s children were solely concerned with their inheritance. It was then revealed that he had left his entire estate, which amounted to approximately $25,000 after settling bills, to his wife. As a remarkable act of gratitude, the wife decided to give this sum to the kind-hearted waitress who had supported them. Despite the waitress initially refusing, the wife insisted, believing she deserved it more than the ungrateful stepchildren.

While her own daughter understood and supported her decision, the husband’s ex-wife and children strongly reacted, expressing their displeasure and accusing her of being inconsiderate. This criticism has caused the wife to question whether she was wrong for her actions.