28 January, Municipal Courthouse, City K

Matthew turned to Lexi, and said "That is not the proposal..."

"The General is right Ma'am. It is a threat. From the material we have on the preliminary investigations on your former in-laws is that they have been using the income generated from the Jax Corp shares left in their control by your late husband, their son, for themselves. The last thing is they want is to lose that money, as they seem to have no other source of income."

"Madam Rong, you need to remember it that the only reason they have access to that income is that your late father gave your late husband those shares to ensure that you and your children where appropriately provided for. That was clearly indicated not only in your late father's will, but the doc.u.ments lodged to transfer the shares to your late husband. If your marriage to your late husband was declared invalid, it would enable you retrieve those shares. However, I suspect that they will fight you on that."

"You mean, they are using some of the income for these proceedings?"

"Given that there is no viable source for them to have any other income, that would have to be the conclusion reached. Presently, with the shares, they hold them as a trustee as Dominic lives with you. they should be giving you income from the shares to support Dominic, but they do not. The suspicion is that once they have custody of Dominic, they will argue that the trust is not needed and transfer the shares to themselves rather than allowing them to be used to provide for him. However, proving that is difficult, but..."

"You have deployed a few resources to try and find things out over the weekend?"

"Yes Sir. While we would normally ignore gossip, it is strong around them currently. It includes that they are already looking for buyers for the shares and places to buy property for themselves. The strongest rumour is that David Hwang has offered them twice as much as anyone else for the shares as soon as they have them."

Lexi sat there mouth open, not able to say a thing. She knew Richard's parents were money hungry, hence she and Chester had been paying them large sums of money each year not to upset the arrangements for Dominic, but this was more than she could imagine. They were using Richard's will for their own means, and she suspected once they had custody of Dominic, he would be dumped in a boarding school not to be seen again.

Matthew, pondered their options, before responding "Lexi while I will leave the final decision to you, my view is that we can use the security checking route, to buy time to better prepare your case but for investigations on those rumours. We can have the threat issued that I will take action to have your marriage to Richard declared invalid but while I preserve my position to do so, presently I am not doing so as I do not want Dominic to be hurt. At the same time, it can be made clear that if I feel that Dominic is going to be hurt by these proceedings, I will take that course of action."

Shaking her head, Lexi quietly responded "I do not know..."

"General, I think given Madam Rong's uncertainty that is the best course of action at the moment, and I will make sure only the minimum information is given out in court."

"Fine Lieutenant, but make sure my true rank is not disclosed."

"Yes Sir."

At that moment before Lexi could respond further, there was a knock on the door, and Warrant Officer Wang opened it saying "Sir, Madam Rong's lawyers are here."

Lexi quietly said "Show them in."

After they entered the room Warrant Officer Wang shut the door, and they sat down. "Madam Rong, Mr and Mrs Yao, made it very clear to us that they intend to have the court impose the orders regarding Dominic as set out in your late husband's will today. They told us to give you two options. Agree now before it goes into the courtroom and they will allow you and your family to spend time with him twice a year under their supervision, or oppose them and they will prevent you and your family from spending any time with Dominic until he turns eighteen."

Lexi under her breath said "Damn."

Hearing Lexi Matthew lent over and quietly said "Do not worry, Lieutenant Li knows what to do."

Matthew then turned and said "Lieutenant, we will do what I said."

"Yes Colonel," came the quick immediate response. Lieutenant Li, turned and then said directly to Lexi's lawyers "How soon is it before the matter will proceed today?"

"It is meant to go up in the next half an hour or so. Madam Rong, what do you want us to do?"

Lieutenant Li, before Lexi could say anything said, "Presently military considerations will be trumping the need for the court to make a decision today."

"What!" was the response from both lawyers.

Before Lieutenant Li cold respond, an announcement came over the Public Address system calling them into the court room. Matthew quickly stood and helped Lexi stand, before escorting her behind her lawyers and Lieutenant Li, with Warrant Officer Wang trailing behind them. As they reached the court door, Warrant Officer Wang paused, as if to stand guard outside the courtroom while they entered.

As she moved inside, Lexi could see venom in the looks of her former in-laws, and before she and Matthew could take a seat behind her lawyers their lawyer jumped up and said "Sir, this is a private matter between my client's and their former daughter-in-law as to the custody of my client's Grandson Dominic Yao. There is no need for any member of the military to be present, even though my client's grandson's stepfather is serving in the military."

Promptly Lieutenant Li stood up and said "Sir, the military has a keen interest in this matter. Colonel Rong, is the stepfather the applicant's lawyer is referring to. He has every right to be with his wife to support her, otherwise in any custody case no stepparent would have a right to be with their spouse for support. Additionally, I was instructed by national military command to be here today. Colonel Rong's position is such that the military's position must be heard under law."

Quickly, seeing the anger already coming from the applicant's side the judge said, "And that is," pausing to take in the uniform "Lieutenant?"

"Sir, given Colonel Rong is a member..." Before Lieutenant Li could speak the judge noticed the insignia on her uniform. Being a reserve member of the military courts, he was used to their insignia and seeing that on the Lieutenant's uniform scared him. Could it be that he was dealing with the Special Forces?

"Lieutenant stop. Colonel Rong, would you please stand for a moment. I just need to see your service branch insignia."

With that Matthew stood up and moved so the judge court see the insignia. Matthew observed that the judge had realised the branch that he and the Lieutenant wore.

"I want the court room cleared immediately save and except for the Colonel and Madam Rong and the lieutenant here. That includes all staff and all recordings are to be stopped."

Lexi heard her former mother-in-law scream "That is unfair."

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