9 June, Matthew's Villa, City K

Lexi looked over and say Joseph storming off from talking to Matthew.? What in the world happened there?? Lexi started to question herself as to whether she did the right thing in telling Matthew to talk to Joseph.

"Earth to Lexi.? Are you going to ignore your favourite brother and brother-in-law."

"Favourite brother, Chester?? Sometimes I wonder about you."

"At least I am honest.."

"Honest.? That is a lie.? How many years did you hide from the truth about yourself and how you felt about Phillip?? Did that not damage the two of you?"

Chester, wheeling Lexi away settled her into a quite corner of the room before saying "Hiding from the truth about myself?? Lexi, I have never done that.? I knew when I was either fifteen or sixteen who I was and who I loved, and I suspected it was the same for Phillip.? But the law was such that I could not express that at the time.? Doing so, could have seen me jailed or possibly killed.? In some respects, I did not care about me but once I knew that we loved each other I was focused on protecting Phillip from harm.? That desire created a weakness that our parents exploited for my marriage to the witch of an ex-wife of mine.? But, at the same time I would not change that because when everything went south for you, I could use that to protect and help you and Dominic."

"You still hid?"

"In some respect I did, but Phillip and I quickly come to terms with that situation.? We accept it and know that it has made us stronger.? It has its challenges, and we have setbacks at times, but it would not be real life if it did not happen.? That, I sense is something that you have come to terms with over the last couple of months."

"How did you know?"

"It has just been how you are.? You are the happiest I have seen you since before Dominic was born.? That is because you feel secure in your life, likely driven by your relationship with Matthew, despite the challenges that occasionally get thrown us.."

"Like Dominic?"

"Yes.? You know what my position always has been about Dominic.? That you needed to be honest about him to everyone.? But you reached that point eventually.? All I hope you do is learn from that.."

"Not to keep secrets.? Unavoidable in my marriage.."

Chester shook his head and said "Matthew's career dictates that there will be secrets kept, like what he actually does.? You know Phillip and I are struggling to forgive the two of you for keeping that secret as well as that about his promotion to General."

"You have that correct.? It is because of his career.? When we got married, I had it clearly explained to me about the consequences of saying anything unless I was given permission to do so."? Lexi paused and said "But speaking of secrets.."

"There were a couple of big ones dropped today."

"Bronwyn's maternal family and what John had to say?"

"I do not know which is bigger.? The Eng family or what Madam Mo did.? You know I wish you totally destroyed her when she tried to pass of a fake of as one of your original pieces."

"With what John had to say, I wish I had done that because she was out to destroy my hard work.? It was bad enough hearing what she to Abigail.? Who does that to a child?? No sane parent, but who said she was sane.? I have my suspicions that she may have abused Monica and their brother, but we are unlikely to be told about that."

"Mmmm.? What woman does that?? My ex-wife is a b*tch and made my life hell because she knew I did not want her or our marriage.? When our marriage ended her parting shot to me was goodbye to rubbish, and that she would live a better life with a real man who loved her.? As far as I know the one thing, she never did was take our dysfunctional relationship out on Dominic.? If she can restrain herself, it makes her a saint compared to Madam Mo."

Lexi giggled and said, "That says a lot because we know she was never a saint in how she treated people."

Chester quietly said, "What do you think John will do?"

"We both know him well enough to know he has made up his mind.? He is going to take it further, because he needs to and is ready to do so.? But I do not believe that his reason that he is ready to do so is why it is happening."

"Me too.? But Phillip said management from their mall here brought an incident to his attention."

Puzzled, Lexi asked "Why would he be told about ..?"

"Something that is seemingly minor?? Phillip is not stupid.? For Paul's sake he alerted all venues under JL International's control in the city of the existence of the restraining order, and that they needed to protect Abigail.? When Madam Mo, in a food court decides to verbally abuse her and then knock someone to cover Abigail and her shopping in drink, you think they are not going to do anything?? For the sake of their jobs, they contacted the police and made sure Phillip knew about the incident."

"That b*tch.? Could that be why John has decided to act?"

"That was my thought, but I suspect that John will not tell us."? Chester paused and said, "How do you feel about him acting now?"

"What happened is still a shock, and I really do not know.? You?"

"I was as shocked as you, but I think he knows that there is more victims than he is saying.."

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