The News
When Richard received the news, it was a devastating blow. He’d known that the hereditary illness ran in his family but hadn’t known that he was a sufferer too. The news was disturbing enough as it meant his health was seriously jeopardized.
However, the implications of the diagnosis sent his entire world crashing down. He left the doctor’s office with a lot on his mind. Not only had it robbed him of his health, but it had also taken away his family.
Richard Mason
On the surface, Richard Mason had a seemingly perfect life. He was from the U.K and, as a successful businessman, had amassed millions from his enterprises. Richard married his wife, Kate, and the couple had a son together.
Four years later, they had twin sons. With his wife and three sons, seemingly good health, and a thriving business, Richard believed his life was complete. He had no idea that nothing was as it seemed.
The Boys
Richard’s three sons were his entire life. Due to his success, he was a devoted father and doted on his boys in every way he could. Life was great early on, and his family thrived.
However, problems soon arose, and Richard’s life soon began spinning out of control. It started when his sons were still young.
The Marriage
Richard was busy a lot, but he tried his best to always provide a good life for his family. Early on, Kate began expressing a sudden interest in Judaism and wanted the boys to be raised in that faith.
Richard did his best to accommodate all of Kate’s demands, but it was soon apparent that they faced many marital problems. The marriage was crumbling, and Richard could tell there was no way to save it.
Separating
Richard never imagined that his life would turn out this way. When the problems between him and Kate worsened, the couple decided to make a painful decision.
They first tried a separation. This was particularly difficult for Richard as he never wanted his sons to grow up in a broken home. Despite trying his best, things still got worse.
Divorce
By 2008, it was clear that there was no mending his marriage. Richard and Kate finally called it quits and got a divorce. Richard did not want his boys to struggle, so he agreed to all of Kate’s exorbitant demands.
In the end, Richard paid more than $5 million for his settlement and continued to pay most of the costs for his boys to attend private schools. However, even this wasn’t enough.
She Wanted More
Even after Richard agreed to everything Kate requested in the divorce, she kept demanding more money over time, and Richard grew frustrated.
At first, he tried to stay close to the family for the kids’ sake, but the constant feuds with Kate and all the litigation that ensued placed a significant strain on him. From there, things just got worse.
Health Concerns
When Richard visited a doctor for a routine check-up, he received some troubling news. The doctor noticed something and ordered some extra tests.
It was 2016 by this point, and he and Kate had been divorced for close to ten years. Richard knew that his sister suffered from a serious health issue, which was hereditary. However, he never knew that it affected him too.
It Troubled Him
Richard had remarried by this point. Amid all the drama from his divorce, getting a serious health diagnosis just put him under more strain.
After breaking the news to him, the doctor called him in to discuss a sensitive issue that would affect life with his current wife. Richard was very concerned now.
Cystic Fibrosis
When the doctor called in, he received confirmation of the news that he had been dreading. He had lost one sister to the disease, and his other sister also suffered from it. This serious disorder could severely affect a person’s lungs, digestive tract, and other organs.
Since it was hereditary, Richard now had another worry to contend with. The diagnosis now meant that his sons were in danger of having the disorder too.
Misunderstanding
Richard’s mind was still trying to comprehend all these worries when the doctor mentioned something that suddenly changed everything. The doctor wanted to be sure that Richard and his current wife weren’t planning to have children.
The reason was that cystic fibrosis in males meant that they were infertile. Richard suddenly felt elated. The fact that he had three sons meant that the tests must have been incorrect. Or so he thought.
A Lie
The doctor confirmed that the tests were accurate and that Richard was almost undoubtedly infertile since birth. However, his entire world came crashing down with this realization.
Richard had to face a shocking truth. His three sons weren’t biologically his, and his entire marriage to Kate had been a lie. She later confessed that she had had an affair and that the couple’s three sons were from another man.
Betrayal
Richard’s entire life seemed to fall apart. It was difficult to comprehend the truth after so many years. His eldest son was 23 now, and the twins were both 19.
He had doted on them all his life, paid for their every expense. The worst part of the betrayal was that even after the divorce, Kate kept trying to get more money out of him, knowing all along that he was not the boys’ father.
Telling The Kids
Richard had to further endure the difficult conversations with his sons. To his relief, they took it better than he hoped. Richard has commented publicly on how difficult this has all been for him.
He described the boys as being the best thing that came out of a marriage that was “cold and joyless”. His only concern now was how to move forward, knowing he wasn’t the boys’ father.
Being A Dad
Richard realized that his ‘sons’ may not have been his biologically, but after raising them his entire life, he still considered himself their dad. Richard is doing his best to care for his own declining health while helping his current partner, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
While two of his sons haven’t spoken to him much after discovering the truth, Richard was delighted when the third son reached out and said he would always consider Richard his father. Despite everything, Richard is still hopeful that he can be a part of the boys’ lives. In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.