Chapter 391 - Your option boss (2)

10 May, Matthew's Office, Military Base, City K

Matthew said, "Stop telling me what I already know."

Bronwyn shook her head, saying "Boss, you asked for advice. I have put it as simply as I can in the report, and there is a copy for both you and Lexi, who by the way I like, to read."

"I do not care about that presently. Just get to the point," came the angry response from Matthew.

Bronwyn shook her head and said, "Threaten me, and I will speak to the Head Honcho, who is still here," laughed Bronwyn. There was no way she would run telling tales but whether the boss realised that was another story.

"Fine but stop threatening me with your father. You have enough of a battle to fight with him when he meets your boyfriend."

"Low blow boss, low blow," laughed Bronwyn. At least the boss was loosening up. "But getting back to what I was trying to say. John a couple of weeks ago told me what he knew about Lexi's share of the Yao family inheritance, so I did a little digging. Lexi's parents transferred her share of it to Richard Yao in contemplation of marriage on the proviso that it was given to their children upon the youngest turning eighteen. As of that, she received nothing in their wills."

"But boss as I said, because you never invalidated the commitment Lexi was never legally married to Richard Yao…"

It suddenly dawned on Matthew "The share transfer was never valid, as she could not legally be married to him."

"Correct Boss. They could not have transferred the shares to Lexi, as legally she could not own them. Looking at the doc.u.ments I could, the evidence is clear why they did the transfer, to provide for Lexi upon her marriage. And as that marriage was never legal…"

"The share transfer and leaving of control of the shares to Lexi's former in-laws was also never legal."

"You have it boss. The best that I can work out is that the shares either would go to Lexi, because she was single at the time of her parents death or alternatively when you two completed the processes to marry they became your shares to go to your children when the youngest turns eighteen."

Matthew nodded "As if I want or need the shares, they will simply have to go into the blind trust as required under the law."

"That we can work out, but speaking of children, with regards to Dominic that was more challenging to find out the situation. The law for civilians is clear, unless the father is present, which is taken to include being at the hospital but not in the birthing room, then only the mother can register the birth alone, but the mother and father can register. That is why Richard Yao was never able to register the birth the way he wanted. If we were only looking at that, the only way that you could get on Dominic's birth certificate was if Lexi agreed or a court ordered your name to appear."

"The situation boss, raised a question of given the procedures you had undertaken and the fact that your records indicate for almost twelve months you were on constant training deployment at the time Dominic was born, how did that effect the situation. I had to ask questions of senior officers in the capital to see if we could determine an answer. If we just had your deployment issue to consider and you had not been registered on the birth certificate as the father you would have a year after birth to apply to have your name placed on the birth certificate. As of Dominic's age, that is not something that can be done."

"The question the situation raised boss, was how children born when two of the three necessary elements for a military marriage had been completed. I did not give them much time for an answer, but the consensus reached is that Dominic would be recognised as your child, and importantly for any inheritance that focus on legitimacy he would be considered legitimate, however, we could not see with absolute certainty that you could, without Lexi's input register yourself as Dominic's father"

Matthew, quietly said "My understanding of that twelve-month rule, was from knowing that the child was born, not from the date of birth?"

"No boss," was the quick response from Bronwyn. After a brief pause, she said, "Permission to speak freely?"

Matthew paused, and looked at Bronwyn. Did he really want to hear what she had to say? But at the same time, would it be a slap in John's face if she refused to listen. Not wanting to annoy John too much, Matthew said "Permission granted."

"Boss,take this bit of advice from someone who does not want things to go wrongly for you. You need to consider what you do carefully. Talk to Lexi about it. In the end, if you can agree, then it minimises problems. Do not run to court for an order, which by the way would be easy to get given you have just found out Dominic, biologically is your son. That will result in a fight, not only with Lexi, but her former in-laws for Richard, who to the world at the time of his death, was recognised as Dominic's son to be registered on the birth certificate. That would keep them in your lives, and they would likely keep control of Lexi's share of her family inheritance."

"So, there is no easy way?"

Bronwyn stood up, opened the door and said as she headed out, "There is an easy way boss, but I cannot take up too much of your time. In the end, what you do is your choice, but apply the logic you use in your career to consider all options before acting, keeping in mind your final goal."

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