Chapter 368 - What is it you want? (2)

6 May, LY Studio, City K

Lexi took a deep breath. "He did. That was linked to the terms of my dowry when we married. He was given control of my share of the family inheritance, which was to provide for me and the children of our marriage, and on our youngest child turning twenty that share was to be split for me to obtain twenty percent and our children receiving the balance of the shares. He could not sell or mortgage the shares, but the income received he was able to spend as he wanted until then. "

Lexi gritted her teeth, because she knew she needed to remain calm "However there was something they forgot to tell you. You would be aware of the requirements for birth certificates…"

Lexi turned and saw a nodding head, and continued "Richard and I were arguing over Dominic's name so there was a delay, but after his death I found when tidying his personal papers, a draft child custody and divorce agreement and the birth registration form he wanted me to sign. Cutting a long story short, the effect was he wanted me to sign a surrogacy birth certificate but wave all claims on behalf of myself and Dominic to my share of my family inheritance. The former was due to the fact his mistress was infertile and they wanted Dominic to be their child, and the latter has its genesis generations earlier in the family, as he wanted for his part of the family what he had believed they had been denied."

"But…"

Interrupting Lexi said "I can guess my former in-laws are in denial of this. That is fine, as long as I know the truth, and the truth will always win out. But I suspect my former in-laws are saying I ran away from my responsibilities dumping them on my brother Chester, who they deem as totally unsuitable to have anything to do with Dominic. They forget I was a fragile eighteen-year-old who had just given birth and lost her husband in abhorrent circ.u.mstances."

"Richard's parents could not cope with the loss of their only child and constantly harassed me about driving him to his death and demanding custody of Dominic. I remember their favourite phrase at the time, Dominic was all that was left of Richard so they should raise him, and I should disappear as I could have other children and would forget Dominic. That only added to everything I was coping with. I had been abused throughout a short-lived marriage, I was constantly overstressed, had to bury my husband of less than twelve months while being shunned by everyone at the funeral, and had to deal with the police investigation into his death. That delivered blow after blow, and the only support I had from anyone was from by brother Chester."

"Chester knew I was not coping and despite the disaster that was his forced marriage he was willing to step in to care for Dominic until I had dealt with my own situation. He arranged for me to go overseas, get help and to pursue education until I could cope. He made sure that I returned at every three weeks to spend time with Dominic and brought him regularly to see me. Processing everything, I had been through took time, with the hardest to deal with be Richard's abuse and betrayal of our marriage. As a means of achieving that I created by business, and when I was ready, I had to move that back here rather than taking Dominic away, as this is Dominic's home, my home. That took over eighteen months."

"That does not…"

"Matter. Excuse me, that is a line my former in-laws use time and time again with me. They may view that as being the case, but since Richard's death they have had access to the income from my share of the family inheritance and will continue to do so until Dominic turns eighteen. I have earned my own income and built up my business through my own hard work. It supports Dominic and me. Despite Chester's refusal I have since it started to earn money paid all Dominic's living expenses, including supplying everything ne needs when he is with my former in-laws. As he refused my money to repay what he spent before I could financially fully support Dominic, I have donated the equivalent amount to charity on Chester and Dominic's name. Plus, even now, my former in-laws demand that my husband and I have to pay all their expenses to have Dominic with them."

Ready to snap, Lexi stopped because she knew she would say the wrong thing.

"Madam Rong, that does not matter. The question for the court is what is best for Dominic and in part that determination will come from my report. At this moment all I see is you badmouthing them and failing to focus on what is important."

Lexi bit the inside of her lip. Was she right? Had all she done was badmouth Richard's parents?

"Did they not tell you; I was the one that made sure they have always been involved in Dominic's life. That was against Chester's view as to what was the best for Dominic, but despite everything I was dealing with I recognised that Dominic needed a relationship with them. I could have ignored that relationship, but I did not. The problem is they still see me as an eighteen-year-old that they can try and intimidate. But that is not the case. I am a strong woman, who has established a business that in less than eight years from its founding has developed to become an increasingly larger player in the international fashion market, employees people internationally and makes me financially independent. All my former in-laws have done is live on money from other people hard work. Despite working for his brother-in-law my former father-in-law does nothing, he is simply paid to keep my former mother-in-law happy by her brother."

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