Chapter 147 - A Trip to School (1)

21 January, Matthew's Villa, City K.

Lexi sat quietly having finished her breakfast, thinking about the weekend that had just passed. Dominic, when Matthew arrived back, with Chester and Phillip supporting him, made it clear to the two of them, even more that he had told her alone how much he hated the arguments that they were happening. He then, told the two of them that he had asked his Uncles Chester and Phillip to stay with them until Sunday so they had time to talk.

When Dominic left, Matthew turned to her making it clear that they needed to talk, and attempt to deal with the issues without Dominic hearing their conflict. His words hit home, that Dominic needed to be protected from a.d.u.l.t issues.

One thing, from all of those discussions was absolutely clear, on the question of a divorce, they still remained diametrically opposed. Matthew would not give her the only thing she wanted, which would prevent all the problems for Dominic, an immediate divorce. His position was that unless she agreed to give their marriage a proper chance to succeed, and he set that out as it being a real marriage for at least eighteen months he would continually oppose a divorce. At least he conceded that if, after that time, it was still obvious that there marriage was a failure he would not oppose a divorce.

While Matthew's unwillingness to agree to a divorce, there was some other benefit. Due to the threat from Richard's parents that they would immediately be taking Dominic and then sending him to a boarding school Matthew made the most important promise he could, despite not knowing the truth. He would ensure Dominic was protected and do everything to prevent him from being taken from her care.

Matthew also reminded her since their marriage Dominic's civilian passport had been cancelled by the authorities and in its place was issued a passport for the children of high-ranking military officers, and the same conditions that applied to her passport also applied to Dominic's passport, which meant that he could not be taken out of the country without his or military approval. That was something that Richard's parents could not change. That was a relief, because it meant that they would struggle to remove Dominic from the country.

The other promise he made, was this morning he would come with her to Dominic's school, not only to deal with the bullying he was being subject to but who had the permission to remove Dominic from the school grounds. He also added, for the moment, his bodyguard would be someone in military uniform. While she wanted to argue about that, Matthew had reminded her about his position, the fact that he was a General despite it not being public knowledge, but given she and Dominic were for whatever reason being targeted, he owed it to them to keep them safe.

Lexi looked up and noticed Dominic in his school uniform and Matthew in his uniform enter the room. Watching the two of them walk in together, she could not believe that no one, other than Chester, had figured out Dominic's true parentage. His facial expressions were so like Matthew.

The two of them sat down, and Matthew turned to Dominic and said "Your mummy and I spoke a lot on the weekend when you were with your Uncle's Chester and Phillip. Now, we have not resolved all our disputes, we promise you that we are to try and not argue like we had been with you around. Are you alright with that?"

"You are going to do that?" quietly asked Dominic. "As I told mummy I hate arguments." Lexi noticed that Dominic immediately dropped his head to avoid looking at either her or Matthew.

Lexi quickly responded, calmly and in a light cheerful tone, "Dominic, our promise is that we are going to try. But remember that if you hear an argument between us, it is about us, not about you."

After lifting his head to look at Lexi, Dominic dropped it again and quietly said, "Yes mummy."

Matthew, unhappy about Dominic's attitude said "Dominic, you need to look at your mummy and I when you are speaking to us. Avoiding looking at us when we are speaking to you or when you reply is not nice. Now, we have told you we promise to try and not argue with each other when you are around. Do you want us to promise you something that we cannot deliver?"

"No. I just do not want you to argue around me," Dominic said firmly looking directly at Matthew.

"That is better, you looked at me when you spoke to me." Matthew said in a firm tone, before shifting to a gentler tone. "Dominic, we are not going to argue with you about this, but we will, to the best of our ability, keep our promise."

Matthew paused and noticed that a weak smile passed Dominic's face quickly. "The other thing your mummy and I are going to promise you is around you going to and from school. If our work allows it either your mummy or I or both of us will take you to and from school. If we cannot do that, we will tell you in advance who will be either taking you to or from school. But you are not to leave your unless it is with whoever we have arranged to do that. Will you promise us you will abide by this rule?"

"That is not fair."

Lexi could see Matthew was trying to tell Dominic to be safe without scaring him. He naturally was demonstrating what it was to be a parent without effort. Correcting behaviour and acting in a way to provide instructions without scaring him.

"Dominic Yao! Do not speak to me or your stepfather like that" responded Lexi, hearing the sharp undertone in her son's voice.

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