Chapter 646 - No, a proper wedding (1)

11 June, Nang Family Villa, City K and Li Mansion, Capital

Matthew knocked on the door of the Nang Family Villa.  This day had been draining.  No matter how much he cared for Ben, Joseph and David, their attitude since John opened up as to what Madam Mo had done to him.  They had all been involved with s*xual assault investigations over the years and knew the realities, even with military victims.  For the female victims, those who came forward to have the perpetrators punished still struggled with what happened to them.

What made their attitude even more galling was the investigation they all were involved in eighteen months ago.  A senior ranking female officer had been harassing a junior male officer, and it was observed by two other officers.  He denied being a victim for months, before eventually admitting that it had been going on for eighteen months before her behaviour was observed.  It took them, until December last year to even get him to make a formal statement to allow her to be prosecuted.

The problem was the reality check he had attempted to give them, even today, fell on death ears.  They were adamant that he was to blame for Craig's suicide because he could not cope with the results of Madam Mo abuse.  Matthew was realistic that he had blamed himself for years for the suicide.  He had continually questioned himself regarding his actions, even now, but had accepted that nothing would have prevented it.

The door in front of him opened, and Sophia, noticing Matthew was still in his uniform said "Matthew, why are you here?"

Resisting falling into childhood habits, he said "Madam Nang, can I come in…"

"Matthew Rong, there is no need to be formal with me.  I remember changing your diapers when you were a baby."

Matthew took a breath before saying "That may be the case, Madam Nang, but I am here on official business.  Is your husband at home?"

"Harry?  He called me about ten minutes ago and said he was on his way home.  Why?"

Matthew briefly closed his eyes, before opening them and saying "your son and his fiancée are on there way here, as I need to talk to you with them here…"

Sophia tensed and pulled back slightly before saying "You better not be about to break my son's heart.  I will…"

Knowing that she would be joking with her words, but conscious of the fact that his adjunct was nearby, he interrupted before saying "Do not say what you are about to say, even if you are joking, as that man," and with that Matthew pointed to Warrant Officer Wang.  "He has a weapon and has a clear mandate that any threat to me is to be taken as a real threat.  You will not like what he will do then."

"Are you threatening me?  You know who my best friend from childhood is?"

"My superiors' wife.  She would tell you the same thing.  That is one thing that you do not do."

A voice came from behind Matthew saying, "Are you hassling my mother, General."

Matthew turned and said, "Just warning her about the consequences of potentially threatening a senior military officer with his armed adjunct standing nearby."

John moved closer to his mother and shaking his head said, "Sometime I wonder about you."

"Wonder about me?  What have I done wrong?"

"That I am waiting on.  Why in the world did you ask me to get my father home and for my fiancée, who by the way you have been stressing out too much yesterday and today, and I here."

"That you have to wait on."  Matthew looked around and said, "Can we head inside, rather than standing out here?"

John simply shook his head and said, "Come on Mother, we need to get this nervous person here inside."  He then turned and said "And your adjunct can remain out here, as my fiancée has arrived.  If you need someone in the military to protect you from my mother, I guess she can do the job and that would mean she would not have to worry about a mother-in-law in the future."

As he finished, John observed his mother, who had started to head further inside turn and laugh before saying "My lovely daughter-in-law to be would not do that to me.  So…"

As he had entered the house, Matthew laughed and said "Lead the way, as I guess the two of us do not want to watch John and his fiancée…"

Sophia shook her head and said "You are totally embarrassed with any public display of affection.  I know you well enough to know that you will always properly greet your wife when you arrive home, regardless of where she is in the house.  Yet you cannot take others doing it…"

"PDA's, that does not bother me, but the dog food that those two want to feed single people, let alone those married people who are not with their spouse.  That I cannot…"

Sophia walked up, and gently slapped Matthew on the head and said "You are an a.d.u.l.t Matthew, so grow up.  Now, follow me, and when they are ready John and Bronwyn will join us and Harry will be home soon."  Sophia stopped walking, paused and said, "Do you want a tea or coffee to drink?"

Immediately Matthew responded, "Tea please."

Sophia motioned him into a lounge area, before leaving him sitting there waiting for everyone.

Meanwhile, Linda Li watched her husband come downstairs having changed out of his uniform and sit down before saying "You look troubled?"

"Troubled, that is the politest way to describe how I feel.  The last few days…"

"I know, when I heard what had happened to John, I could not believe it.  The only way to describe that woman is she is a predator."

"A choice word, but…"

"You are worried about our daughter?"

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