One woman grew up thinking her parents favored her brother just because he was a boy. When she was 43, her dad confessed that he wasn’t actually her brother’s father. During a brief separation, her mom had an affair with a wealthy man who paid child support, which explained why her brother always got more. The brother still doesn’t know.

Another story revealed an aunt who robbed the bank she worked at and was also caught cheating on her husband there. A great-grandfather secretly sold stolen coal, invested the money in land and a hotel, and the truth only came out after his death. A grandma discovered that her dad had another family and even gave both sets of kids the exact same names to avoid confusion.

Some stories involve love and betrayal. A woman secretly dated her boss, breaking up his 10-year relationship, and still believes they are soulmates. Another person found out years later that their dad had cheated with their mom’s brother’s wife. One man warned his psychiatrist he might commit a robbery, wasn’t taken seriously, and actually did it—then brought the stolen money back to the office.

Others involve heartbreaking lies. A woman’s mom told her for 40 years that her dad had abandoned them, when in reality her mom had kept them apart. By the time she learned the truth, her dad had already passed away. Another person discovered they had a secret half-sibling and eventually reunited with them through AOL Messenger. Someone else found out about an aunt with a mental disability who was hidden from the family and later built a relationship with her.