Chapter 311 - Will the press bury him? (3)

19 April, Steven's apartment, City K

Steven hung up from the call with Lexi and Matthew. Despite their reassurances about not blaming him about the story he still felt guilty. At least, Matthew had agreed to him arranging a small celebration dinner for his promotion. That at least was something that he could organise for Chester and Phillip.

He looked towards the spare bedroom door and observed that it was still closed. While crashing into Abigail Mo, had resulting in him spending time with a young woman who he had dismissed previously due to her mother, that was the exact same issue he had initially steered away from even speaking to her.

She had no boundaries and believed that she had to be the centre of the universe. That was something you could deal with through steering clear of her but talking to Abigail told him how scary she was. She had terrified her, and he could understand that she did not want to return anywhere that she could access easily.

Before he could move to check on her his Mobile rang again, and after checking the caller ID he answered it before saying "Father, what do you want?"

"No pleasantries?"

"Just stressing out."

"Abigail Mo or Lexi and Dominic?"

"What…?"

"Steven, I know you too well. Despite what you portray to most people you have a heart and care for not only your friends but those who you feel you need to protect. I called the editor myself when I saw the article and reminded him about the editorial policy I enforced when it all happened. I have absolutely no issue with sensational information being published, my concern is always information that can harm children. I never want a child to have to go through what you and your siblings went through with your mother and my relationship ended. But the story was going to come out. We just happen to have the full story, now including interviews that add the final piece to the puzzle. Those are exclusive interviews until we publish tomorrow."

"But…"

"I have seen the preliminary draft which will be fleshed out today. Through us telling the story, it will protect Lexi and Dominic the best. More importantly, how is Abigail Mo?"

"Why are you worried about her?"

"You forget her father and I have a standing golf game every fortnight, and we played yesterday. He is so worried about her."

"Hence why you gave me the time off?"

"Absolutely not. You are showing the heart I know you have, and that makes me proud. As I told you Sunday, take the time you need to help her. The business will not fall apart without you here."

"Thank you, dad. She just needs to feel safe from her mother. I convinced her to speak to her older sister…"

"Older sister…? Hang on, I remember that the family disowned her because she married someone they did not approve of."

"Correct. She married a soldier who is now one of Matthew's subordinates, and lives on base. Matthew says that he is a good guy, and they have offered to have Abigail stay with them. There is no way her mother can get near here there, which is the best thing for her, however, she refuses to leave here. Hopefully, the police have the restraining order sorted today, that will make her more comfortable in going there."

"Kevin said the police intend to charge…"

"The abusive mother? That was what I understood when they left here yesterday. Abigail was great at hiding the abuse, and her mother over the years when she went overboard took her to different doctors and hospitals for treatment, so no one put together what she had been doing. Abigail finally agreed to allow all the records to be accessed, and what they showed makes even my hair stand on end. Abigail, I think has the willingness to stand up against that…"

A quiet feminine voice came from beside him "Not a willingness, but a want to have it stop."

Steven turned and he could see tears running down Abigail's face, so he put the phone down on speaker and said, "Dad you are on speaker."

"Abigail are you alright?"

"Worried Uncle Gu. I just worry she what she will do. Daddy never stopped her from hurting me."

"Sweetheart, your mother is always the best at burying things. Yes, your father was stupid when you and your siblings were born, but he realised his mistakes, and you know he loves you. Your mother on the other hand…"

"Hates me. Uncle Gu she told me this too many times when she was hurting me or had me strapped to a chair watching her activities. She never cared about me; I was just something she could hurt to hurt daddy. But I want you to help me bury her. Something did not click until I was looking at the newspapers on-line this morning. One of her beatings where she broke my arm in two places as well as other injuries happened when I disturbed her entertaining a young man at home when Daddy was away on a business trip. The man helped her hurt me and threatened to kill me if I talked, so I stuck with the story they were telling was that I was racing around home and partially fell down the stairs. I said nothing because I was so scared, but the photograph I saw in the news today told me who he was. Since my brother-in-law was posted here by the military, I have been secretly meeting my sister, and met her friend Lexi Yao. I saw the photo and realised that the man who was involved was her husband, and the incident happened around six months before he was killed. Uncle Gu, I so want to have the press bury him, but Lexi Yao seems a nice person who does not deserve that."

Steven, while being stunned on seeing the tears running down her face, moved and gathered Abigail in his arms to give her a hug, saying "It will be alright."

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