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Friends betrayal

106 replies

andromeburns · 17/10/2026 17:19

Hi I need some advice. I recently found out I have a younger sister. Basically when i was 4/5 mum had an affair and had another child. She gave the baby up for adoption and her and dad stayed together. My parents both died in the last five years and the ‘baby’ has found me on social media after getting her adoption details. We are both in our fifties and have messaged and met up once. Shes great and we are getting to know each other. Because both my parents are dead and we don’t know who her dad is there’s not really any one we can talk to about this and get more information. I don’t know if my grandparents knew but they are all dead and my uncle didn’t know. I recently told my oldest friend and it turns out she knew and has known for over thirty years (her cousin was close friends with my mum) I feel really betrayed by my friend as had I have known early I could have asked my mum/ dad or her cousin about it but now there’s no one to ask. (Her cousin died 3 years ago)I’ve known my friend since we were children and we have been close our entire lives. Am I right to feel betrayed by her? I don’t know if I can forgive her.

OP posts:
Ipsevenenabibas · 17/10/2026 18:29

AudiobookListener · 17/10/2026 18:20

She kept your Mom's secret. As she should. It was never her place to tell you. And she may have felt she was protecting you from a lot of potential stress and upset. It may have been stressful for her keeping this secret. I'd not let it affect a good friendship.

This.
I also think she would be damned if she told you and clearly, damned if she didn't. What a horrible position she was in. She absolutely did the right thing.

AudiobookListener · 17/10/2026 18:20

She kept your Mom's secret. As she should. It was never her place to tell you. And she may have felt she was protecting you from a lot of potential stress and upset. It may have been stressful for her keeping this secret. I'd not let it affect a good friendship.

WallaceinAnderland · 17/10/2026 18:07

It wasn't her secret to tell. She had no way of knowing if you would be devastated.

TheDr46 · 17/10/2026 18:05

The burden your friend must have felt, carrying this for all these years. She probably wanted to tell you but her hands were tied. You’ve got every right to feel upset and but I doubt very much this is a betrayal on the traditional sense. There would have been no good time for her to tell you this without some fall out. Friendship of over 30 years is worth holding on tight to.

Redflagsabounded · 17/10/2026 17:55

I think the opposite. If course you are questioning why she didn't tell you and are hurt about that. Have you asked her why in a non- confrontational way?

I can imagine she was torn in two by this. It's a secret she should never have been told when she was presumably quite young? It must have been a burden, surely.

She respected your parent's privacy, and kept her nose out if your family business. Telling you would have launched a rocket into your life. Or maybe now she regrets not telling you at some point?

She an old friend. Talk to her.

HambleDoll · 17/10/2026 17:44

I wouldn’t ever speak to her again. I hope you and your sister become great friends.