My Ex-Wife’s Shocking Request for Our Late Son’s Fund Left Me Furious!

Holding a photograph of Peter, my late son, I wondered how life might have been if he were still alive. Peter was full of energy, dreams, and big plans for the future. But his life was tragically taken by a drunk driver.

Peter’s mom and I divorced when he was 12. She remarried two years later, and I remarried when Peter was 16.

After our divorce, Peter lived with me. His mom wanted to take her time to bond with her new stepson, Ryan.

Peter spent just one summer with them. Later, he told me his mom and her new family kept their distance from him emotionally. He never wanted to spend more time with them, though he stayed in touch and saw them occasionally.

Peter loved drawing, especially sketching. His biggest dream was to attend Yale. The photograph I was holding was taken the day before he got accepted into that prestigious university.

As I thought about the happier times and the deep conversations I had with my son, I heard a knock at the door.

It was Susan, my ex-wife. She said she had something important to discuss.

She and I hadn’t spoken much since the divorce, except about Peter. Now that he was gone, I couldn’t imagine what we had to talk about.

With confidence that shocked me, Susan said she knew I had a college fund for Peter. She was right—I had set up a 529 Plan for him. As long as he pursued higher education, the money was his to use.

“You know,” she began, “now that Peter is gone, we could use that money for my stepson Ryan’s education. My husband Jerry thinks this is the best decision.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You want to use Peter’s money—the money I saved for years—for someone my son barely knew? That’s ridiculous,” I replied.

“Don’t act like this,” she said. “Ryan is part of the family too.”

“What family?” I shot back. “Peter only met Ryan a handful of times.”

Anger filled my voice as I continued, “Don’t you remember that summer Peter stayed with you? He overheard Jerry saying Peter wasn’t his responsibility. And now you want me to use his money for someone else?”

She tried to convince me that this was what Peter would have wanted. But I knew my son well, and I was certain it wasn’t what he’d want.

I asked Susan to leave my house.

The next day, I booked a trip to Belgium, the country Peter always dreamed of visiting. I walked the streets, visited museums, and even explored the “beer monks” he had been so fascinated by. I carried his photograph in my pocket and felt his spirit everywhere I went.

When I came back, I used the rest of the money to start a foundation that would support young artists like Peter.

This was how I honored Peter and kept his legacy alive.