Chapter 464 - What to you think? (5)

14 May, Military hospital, City K

Lexi looked at Matthew and said, "You are wicked."

"Not wicked. Due to her already displayed attitude it is not difficult to predict what she will do. She wants Dominic in her care because it guarantees her continued access to money, and we just have to plan for that move. Plus, I would suspect her plan is with Dominic in her care to work on persuading him to agree to transfer all the assets to her when he gets them on turning eighteen before kicking him away,"

"Mmmm."

Lexi paused and looked directly at Matthew, before saying "I still do not get the other part of the plan about having my marriage to Richard declared invalid. That achieves nothing."

"It achieves a lot. I was able to get a hold of the dowry agreement signed by your parents and on Richard's behalf by his parents under a power of attorney. Why anyone would trust them, makes me wonder, but he agreed to follow through. Bronwyn pointed out to me the flaw in the agreement. It contains clear statements about the transfer of the shares and other assets that went to Richard. Knowing your parents, I suspect they did this to try and prevent Richard from undergoing a sham ceremony without the formal registration. It uses the words on a legal marriage."

"So…" Lexi paused, and it then dawned "It was never a legal marriage."

"Correct, because of what we had done which I never invalidated that. The reasons for that requirement has its history, and to protect women. We both know it was only in the last couple of generations that those in rural areas began experiencing all the advantages of those in large towns and cities. Most foot soldiers did, and still do come from rural areas. It was their way to escape from the disadvantages that living in a rural area. After their service, they could return in a better financial position than they could ever be in remaining in the rural area. They had status. But those same areas had a disadvantage for couples. It lacked government officials to properly record civil marriages and religious ministers to perform religious marriages. They travelled to areas and sometimes only visited an area once a year. The steps came to protect women left behind, by recognising them formally as the soldier's partner allowing benefits from their service to pass and protecting children. When I started my officer training all the ins and outs were explained to me, but for us but a civilian marriage in the absence of the voiding step is not valid. That, did not change when the marriage laws were amended despite the now abandonment of the process because of the changes, and still would apply even if we did not marry."

Lexi closed her eyes briefly and opened them, before saying "And Bronwyn said as the wording refers to a legal marriage being the trigger for the transfer of the shares and assets, they could never be transferred to Richard because it was not a legal marriage."

"Correct. In the end there are two outcomes, you get the assets, or they go back into your parent's estates which technically give them to Andrew and Chester, but the argument would be that the reason you got nothing in their estates was because of their reasoning they had provided for you and that failed so what was set aside to provide for you should come to you."

"But who makes the decision?"

"Lexi it is two steps, firstly about the validity of your marriage with Richard. That requires my personal record to be reviewed and it will confirm what Bronwyn said and provided. The military courts, who are the ones who have the authority to rule on the matter will confirm that it was invalid. Yes there can be an argument that from the time of your marriage until recently this has not been raised as an issue and the marriage should be declared valid but given your material filed about his abuse of you the court would be reluctant to overturn the position that your marriage to Richard was never legal. That invalidates what Richard did in his will regarding the shares and other assets your parents gave him."

"Then Chester and Andrew as the beneficiaries of our parent's estates can act to get everything back,"

Matthew nodded and said "Then what happens to everything they retrieve is the second question. I suspect they will give you that because the intention always was for it to provide for you."

"Matthew is right Lexi. Even if Chester does not agree I will make sure you get that." The two of them looked over and saw Andrew and Sally at the door. Andrew turned to Matthew and said "I do not trust you at all, but Lexi seems to and presently that is all that counts. But Chester and Phillip are on their way over Matthew so to prevent an argument get the hell out of here."

Sally added "Come and talk with me."

Matthew turned and looked at Lexi before saying "Are you alright with that?"

"Avoiding another argument with Chester presently, absolutely. He does get that I want to work through things with you and see if we can make our marriage work."

Matthew stood up and walked towards the door. As he passed Andrew, Andrew drooped his shoulder and said loud enough for Matthew to hear "Do not think that you will get away with how you treated my sister. I, unlike my brother will not let Lexi see how I feel."

Matthew slightly nodded and walked past Andrew. As he was shutting the door, he heard Andrew asked "How are you little sister?"

Walking to a waiting area Matthew sat down on a chair with Sally sitting across from him before she said "Ignore him. Yes, I was angry about last week, but the more information I have gotten from Andrew and Chester I can see there is fault all around."

"Thank you Sally."

Matthew paused, and realised Sally gave him an opportunity to head off another issue. "Sally can you do me a favour and arrange a meeting with your university lecturer Warren Gong?"

-------

If you are reading this novel anywhere other than at or its apps then you are reading work that has been stolen in breach of the authors rights and those rights assigned to others.

Please support this author and only access this novel through at /book/15095783406874805 and report the illegal posting of this work.