The Solider Husband - Chapter 610

9 June, Matthew’s Villa, City K

As he turned off the television, Matthew looked at Lexi, glad that Dominic was finishing off his homework, having spent the day at a classmate’s birthday party.

Before he could say anything, Lexi said quietly, “He is brave to do that.”

Matthew shook his head and said “Stupid more like it.  Is he wanting to risk the criminal case?”

Lexi opened her eyes slightly wider, pulled back and said, “What do you mean?”

“It risks Madam Mo, using what he did to attempt to escape liability.”

Lexi shook her head and calmly responded “You are over thinking things.  The police are not that stupid, and you would have to agree Bronwyn is not, either.”

“In know Bronwyn is not that stupid, but it is playing with fire.”

Matthew turned away from Lexi and looked outside the window seeing the last streaks of the sunset in the sky.  He was still in so much turmoil from realising what drove Craig Zhang to commit suicide, and now knowing that he could have been supported and the help he needed being obtained.

Seeing Matthew tense slightly, Lexi calmly, but firmly said “What is troubling you Matthew.  I have sensed, ever since John told us all about things, that there is something wrong.  It is not a secret you can keep.”

Matthew turned back, and as she observed his face Lexi gasped in shock.  The horror and conflicting emotions she could see told her that there was something significantly wrong.  Wanting to go over and hug Matthew but restricted because of her injuries all Lexi could say is “Sit down and tell me what the issue is.  That b*tch better not have abused you…”

Matthew, realising he was worrying Lexi, moved over and sat in a chair across from her before saying “I was lucky, she did not.  And we know my parents, because I did not comply with what they wanted me to do with my life, washed my hands of me.  Plus, Madam Mo and my mother have always been at odds, so could you see my mother agreeing to have her help address the family issues we had.  No chance.”

After pausing and looking directly into Lexi’s eyes, Matthew said “It is John I feel sorry for.  My decision and everyone’s reactions forced him into a box.  Unlike our parents who wanted us to comply with their plans for us, Harry and Sophia Nang encouraged John and Sally to follow their dreams.  You remember…”

“Sally growing up loved to dance.  I remember her dragging me to some classes, and as soon as I could get out of there I did.  But Sally was good enough to compete in competitions as we grew up.  Her parents took her across the country to compete, but that stopped when she injured her knee.”

“Sally was highly disappointed about that.”

“But, at the same time, they did not know how to take the news when one of their son’s closest friends joined the military.  I remember the look in their eyes when I announced my decision, and if I noticed it, John noticed it.  That would have made him not tell them his decision.  He was worried about their reaction.”

After looking at Lexi in the eyes, Matthew took a couple of deep breaths.  “Honestly, my issue is that when that b*tch did what she did, he did not follow through with having her dealt with criminally.  Logically I know it is not as simple as that, because it is human emotions, he was only eighteen and he was a male and his abuser was a female.  But that decision had consequences for other victims…”

“Matthew, he is our friend, we have to give him the benefit of understanding why he did not follow through until now.  He had to be ready to face the consequences of it publicly being know what she did to him.  That is a lot to take on for any a.d.u.l.t, even someone with his training.”

Matthew shook his head, before saying “I get that, but other victims…”

It suddenly dawned on Lexi, who said “You know one of her other victims?”

“Knew one.”

Lexi sat there, for a few seconds before realising “Knew?  They are dead?”

Matthew nodded and quietly said “There are limits on what I can say.  I became aware of her being an abuser between twelve and eighteen months after she targeted John.  I had not long been appointed as an officer, and an older enlisted soldier in my command presented with psychological issues.  The officers guide told me what to do.  Speak to the solider in question, and then force them to have a physical and psychological examination to determine their fitness to continue to serve.”

“I followed the guide, and it came out that she had groomed and abused him about two and a half years earlier.  Me, being young and stupid told him his obligation as a member of the military, was that he had to protect the people.  That included stopping her.  Cutting a long story short, he spent some time in the hospital and must have convinced the medical experts that he was fit to continue to serve.  About two weeks after returning to active duty, I found him after he committed suicide, with a suicide note in his pocket.  It spoke of his issues and said that he would never be believed because no one else had come forward.”

Lexi quietly said “Matthew, you cannot say if John had come forward that there would have been a different outcome.”

“Logically I know that, but it may have changed the course of that soldier’s life.  I know I did nothing wrong, but he was a close friend of Ben, David and Joseph…”

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