Newton Family's Secret Sorrow

Bert and Patti’s happiness is marked with sadness as they face a constant reminder of exiled son Matthew

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He’s the apple of his mum’s eye but every time Lauren Newton gazes lovingly at Sam, she must feel torn given that he is a dead ringer for her beloved older brother Matthew, who fled Australia years ago.

“At times it does make Lauren sad to look at her own son and be reminded of Matthew, because she and Matthew were so close growing up they could almost have been twins,” reveals a family friend.

“Yet he’s probably never going to come home from New York where he went to try and put his disgraceful past behind him, and that distance and absence will always make Lauren feel sad because she misses him desperately.

“As a sister, she’s been embarrassed and shocked over the years thanks to Matthew’s exploits, but she will always love him, despite often being the one left in the middle helping support her parents when he’s suffered another disaster.”