Chapter 552 - Family Intervention (2)

1 June, Matthew's Villa, City K

"No. But when she led the charge to force my marriage, I realised that she was condemning me to her story."

"I sense something else in that statement?"

"True. Even Chester and Andrew do not know this. The day of Richard's funeral, mother pulled me aside and told me that I could not remain unmarried. She said I would be given six weeks to grieve for Richard, but I would be marrying someone they and Richard's parents chose for me, otherwise I would have nothing."

Matthew stuttered out "What…!"

"I did not know whether to believe it or not, but with what Richard did it put me on edge. I struggled with the situation until I made the arrangements with Chester to care for Dominic. He got me out of the country and made sure I had enough financial support to live. I suspect that our parents wanted to try and cut him off, but with his marriage to that b*tch of an ex-wife of his, they dared not to because of her family."

Lexi paused and said "The problem is how much of this do we let Dominic know. I cannot tell him about forced marriages and what my parents and Richard's parents had in store for me, and him. But it helps explain part of my reluctance to return…"

Matthew looked at Lexi seeing the struggle clearly on her face. "My view is that we need to be totally honest with Dominic because we are only in this position because we hid things from him. Of course, there are some things that are not age appropriate, and we can leave out telling him those things. But the decision must be your decision. I will support you in what you chose to do."

Lexi smiled slightly and looked directly at Matthew before saying "Thank you. I just do not know what to do…"

"Whatever you decide will be the right thing Lexi…"

"As if," came an angry voice at the door. Lexi looked over and Matthew turned before observing Dominic standing in the doorway.

"How long have you been there Dominic?" came Matthew, somewhat sharply, but Lexi could sense that he was holding back some of his anger.

"So, what. I just walked in, and you are talking about keeping secrets. Why would I believe anything that you have to tell me. You lie to me all the time. Like you promised I could go for a sleepover at my friends tonight earlier this week and now you called them and said I could not go."

Hearing the anger in their son's voice, Lexi said "Dominic, you know doing things like that depend on your behaviour. This morning your behaviour was not appropriate. Yes, you lost some of your privileges, but then you sulked because you were punished for what you were asked to stop and did not."

Matthew calmly added "Plus our family and some of our friends, including your Uncle John are coming over. Apparently, he proposed to Miss Bronwyn and she accepted so we wanted to have a small celebration for them."

"Why would I care…"

"You love your Uncle John…"

"He helped you keep secrets," interrupted Dominic, angrily.

Lexi, calmly responded "Dominic, stop that attitude. You want to keep misbehaving; you will continue to lose your privileges."

"What else would I expect from someone who lies."

Matthew, having already heard enough in an angry but tempered tone to prevent frightening Dominic said "Enough. Dominic, you can be angry, but there is no need to speak to us like that."

"So!"

Matthew took a calming breath before adding "There is a time to be angry, a time to be upset, and a time to deal with things. We have given you some time to deal with those emotions to at least talk to us about the situation. If you cannot talk to us, how can we help you."

Seeing Dominic start to open his mouth, Matthew quickly added "And do not say, that we do not care and cannot help you. We do, and this is going to stop."

"Ha! As if."

Lexi snapped out "Dominic, enough of that. You will let me say what I was going to."

Matthew quickly added "And if you interrupt your mother there will be consequences. Your after-school activities will stop for two weeks, and you keep going that will become four weeks. And you will lose access to your electronic devices other than for schoolwork."

"Unfair. I need them…"

"It might be unfair, but playing games, using them to access the internet and the like is a privilege, not a right."

"But my friends…"

"If your friends do not like you because of you not having access to those things, are they your friends? As to your school, remember that just because your mummy and I, and your Uncles Chester, Phillip, and Andrew all went to the same school as you now go to, you do not have to go there. There are other schools."

Lexi looked at Dominic and noted that Matthew had been able to quieten Dominic. He loved his school and ever since Matthew had organised the tour of the military base, he had become quite popular with everyone, because every class now wanted to go on a tour to see the military base.

Taking the opportunity to be able to say what she had intended Lexi said "As I was trying to tell you, your Uncle John had proposed to Miss Bronwyn. As she is a soldier like your Daddy Matthew, and her father is a general like him as well…"

Lexi paused and looked at Matthew not sure how to explain things. Sensing her worries Matthew added "There is a formal process that they have to go through before they can officially announce their engagement. But, as we are all friends, we wanted to celebrate this, at least quietly. Because your Uncle John is your godfather, we wanted you to be here for that."

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