Ex-wives and ex-husbands can sometimes cause problems in new families. While many people think “ex is ex, and it’s all in the past,” sometimes dealing with them is unavoidable.

This was a big problem for Sofia, our reader, who shared her story with us. Sofia, 35, wrote to us with a story that surprised us with its twist. She wanted us to publish it and ask for our readers’ opinions and advice.

Sofia was happy with her husband, Alex.

Sofia is 35 and has always given advice to others who shared their stories with us. She never thought she’d be the one needing help and advice.

Sofia wrote, “Hi, I’ve recently faced a situation in my family that cost me a lot of sleepless nights, and I want to share it because I still feel unsure about my final decision.
My husband Alex and I had been living a happy life for over 5 years. Alex passed away in his sleep 5 months ago, and it was a tragedy for me. I didn’t expect this; he was a healthy 45-year-old man who loved sports and lived a healthy lifestyle. I was broken when this happened, and I’m still mourning my loss.”

“Alex and I met when he was recovering from a very painful divorce from his ex-wife, Natalie. I hadn’t seen this woman until Alex’s funeral, but I knew she was greedy and never worked a day in her life. Alex divorced her because he caught her cheating, and he couldn’t forgive her.”

Sofia wrote, “Alex and Natalie have 2 sons, Richard and Anthony, who are 20 and 21 years old. I met his sons a few times during our marriage, and I wasn’t impressed by their behavior. It was obvious they treated their dad like an ATM and only wanted cash and expensive presents.
I didn’t tell my husband about this because I thought I shouldn’t interfere with his parenting. He loved his sons, and his generosity was his choice, which I tried to respect.”

“Alex’s ex, Natalie, knew about his good financial situation, which improved after their divorce. She wanted his money even after the divorce and often called him for financial support, manipulating him. He rarely refused, though it annoyed him, but he felt responsible for her well-being, and I didn’t object.”

Sofia revealed, “Right after Alex’s funeral, I faced a real ordeal with his ex and his sons. They came over and went through all our belongings, taking what they wanted, even things that belonged to me.
His sons planned the funeral and gave me the bill, which I paid. I lived in Alex’s home (I sold my home when we got married) and recently spent a lot of money on renovations.”

“This investment increased the home’s value. The biggest shock was when Natalie boldly said I must take my things and leave because she was going to sell the house. I asked if they could refund the money I spent on renovations since they planned to sell it. They all said no.”

Sofia wrote, “I was devastated by Alex’s death and didn’t want to argue about money and property with these people. I took my savings, bought an apartment, and moved out. But then something frustrating happened to Alex’s ex.

When they tried to sell the house, they couldn’t because Alex had put my name on it. They were angry and quickly set up a meeting with me. All three of them came and boldly asked if I’d split the sale of the house with them. I didn’t hesitate and confidently said no, just like they did when I asked for a refund for the renovations.”

“Now I own the house, and I’m not going to sell it. But something in my heart makes me feel unhappy about my decision. I feel guilty for being so firm with my husband’s sons, and I have a lot of doubts about what I did. What should I do?