Chapter 373 - Why? (1)

9 May, Matthew's Villa, City K

Having received a telephone call from Lexi for a family meeting Matthew hurried into the villa leaving Warrant Officer Wang to deal with his belongings still in his vehicle. Her call forty minutes ago made him worry. Had the screenings come back that there was no compatible donor for Dominic, and therefore they had to rely on the international search for someone suitable?

As he entered Uncle Adam opened the door, saying "Sir, Madam is in the formal lounge with your brother and brothers-in-law. Master Dominic is with his Aunt Sally in his room, as she said he did not need to be involved with the a.d.u.l.t conversations."

As he put on the waiting slippers Matthew worried about what was going to happen. Dominic, despite everything seemed happy, and could cancer kill him? He hurried into the formal lounge, and saw Andrew and Chester sitting beside Lexi on one sofa and Phillip across from them on another. Taking the hint, he sat down beside Phillip and looked at the four of them.

As he observed them, Matthew could see that there was some shocking news about to be delivered, but he could not figure out that it was. They had a secret and were only going to tell him about it when it was necessary.

"Lexi, what is it? You have me worried. Is there no suitable donor for Dominic?"

Lexi turned and looked at Chester before throwing herself into his arms crying. Matthew paused, that had to mean that the news was bad. How could Lexi cope with that?

Chester, after settling a still sobbing Lexi into Andrew's arms, looked directly at Matthew and said "We seriously need to talk about lots of things before we get to the good news. We all know the secret, as does Sally, and have kept the truth from you."

Phillip, from beside him said "That choice was Lexi's choice, but it was forced on her. You know about how Lexi and that b*stard Richard came to be married?"

"Lexi's father due to her age signed the marriage registration, because he and your mother Chester, were ashamed that Lexi was pregnant from a drunken encounter after I went back for my large training block after she graduated with Richard."

Seeing the look on Chester's face, Matthew realised that this was not the truth. Richard, that b*stard r.a.p.ed her. If he were not dead, he would have killed him for hurting Lexi, no wonder she had to leave after his death to pull herself together."

"You have it right that it was a forced marriage, not because of what you think," came the serious words from across the table.

Chester paused and looked at Lexi who was still sobbing and trembling in Andrew's arms. Matthew saw a flash of venom in Andrew's face. Was he misreading information? In that moment something dawned on Matthew, what he had been told about Dominic was not the truth.

"Richard is not Dominic's father?" Matthew spat out in a shocked tone, before getting louder "And you did not tell me that. Damn it Lexi, that one simple fact could have dealt with the court proceedings from Richard's parents…"

Chester, standing up said "Calm down Matthew. My sister does not need you threatening her. You do not know the full story and you need to before passing judgement. How old was Lexi when she graduated?"

"Seventeen, when she graduated, and she would turn eighteen in the following December. So?"

"And what did the two of you do when you were here?"

"None of your business."

"It is. In part that is how the two of you are married. Before you want to say anything, Phillip and I spoke to the President and asked questions of him. While he would not give us all the specifics what he was able to tell us that there was certain formal procedures that, were legal for Lexi to do given she was seventeen and apparently you had filed a marriage report request, but could not be formally completed until Lexi turned eighteen. Neither of us could get out hear around all the details, but a ceremony performed by a religious minister, apparently, was enough to complete that."

Andrew, having been calm before them tensed slightly and spat out "But we all know that was not the limit of what you did. You b*stard, you had s*x with my baby sister. I so want to kill you, but I promised Lexi when she told me everything that I would not go overboard. But watch it, friendship will not save you…"

Matthew looked around with a confused look. He had no idea what they knew that he did not. As calmly as he could he said, "What happened is only Lexi and my business not your business, so do not threaten me Andrew."

With that, Andrew disengaged Lexi from his arms and stood up moving quickly before punching Matthew on the face, yelling "B*stard!"

As Andrew went to hit him a second time, Matthew reached up and grabbed Andrew's hand holding it with just enough strength to prevent him from completing his swing, but not any harder. He ground out "I let you have one shot, but no more. Calm down, and" motioning towards Lexi who was still sobbing added "Lexi is upset, and I do not want you upsetting her any further."

Andrew turned and saw Lexi, who looked lost and was still crying, and he turned to move back towards Lexi causing Matthew to let go of his hand.

Matthew looking at the four of them and considered Chester's statements. After pausing and laterally thinking Matthew turned and directly looked at Phillip who after a few seconds could not keep his eyes. That answered his question, and he quietly said "Why Lexi. You could have told me the truth."

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