Never Judge

"I promise you uncle, my reputation will not harm your business." Tony assured Ivan Lobo.

"And what of your promise to me?" An elderly man asked as he entered. Cedric assumed that this was Aiden Ortiz's grandfather since the younger man followed behind him.

"Grandfather, there is no need to push Amanda into something she doesn't want. I will convince my goddess that I'm the one for her." Aiden begged, it was clear that the young man was smitten with Amanda Lobo.

"Shut up boy. You don't even need to make an effort!" The old man scolded his grandson. He then turned to Adrianna's grandfather, the patriarch of the Lobo family. "When my son and daughter-in-law died and your son survived didn't you swear to me that we would unite our families. Where is that union now?" The old man demanded.

Cedric watched as Adrianna's grandfather stood up and looked at the Ortiz elder. "I have no right to force my granddaughter to do something she doesn't want, especially with matters of the heart." 

"Please, Mr. Ortiz, can we settle this peacefully." Cedric was shocked as Adrianna asked the old man as she approached him. "My cousin has another man in her heart, won't it be a disadvantage to your grandson if there was a possibility of my cousin cheating on him?"

"Who are you to speak of cheating, you whore!" Grandpa Ortiz said as a slap descended on Adrianna. Luckily Mia was nearby and took the slap for Adrianna.

"Mia!" Adrianna gasped, she was ready to take the slap. 

"I know you're the mistress to the Reyes Heir. Your cousin clearly died from being involved with him. Why else would all those top families be coming to our distant province?" The old man accused.

"Take that back!" Gracia Hernandez shouted. "My daughter is no one's mistress. How dare you fling false accusations."

"Everyone knows that her child is actually the Reyes Heirs!" Aiden's grandfather accused.

"No." Cedric finally said. His tone and demeanor demanded respect, and with most people in the room knowing his identity they all listened. "I can prove he is my son. I will not have you calling my wife any man's mistress. She is mine and mine alone."

"Fine, where is this proof?" The old man demanded.

Cedric stepped out for a while and asked Ian to fetch something from his files. Ian came back with an envelope that was once sealed. Cedric thanked him and walked back in. 

"I had this test done in order to shut people like you up." Cedric said as he handed the old man a piece of paper, it was a DNA test. He was planning on posting this on his social media accounts to prove little Emilio was his, but he changed his mind when he realized people might think he had the test done because he had suspected his wife of cheating. 

"Fine, the child is yours." The old man said tossing the documents back at Cedric. Suddenly one of the old man's companion's came running in and whispered something to him. His reaction became worse as he sent the messenger away. He looked back up at the Lobo family and glared at them. "I still demand a union between our families!" The old man said as he marched out.

"I will try to calm him down and change his mind, I'm sorry." Aiden Ortiz quickly told everyone as he followed after the old man. 

Just as they exited the room Cedric got a call from Ayanna.

"Hey sis, I assume you just landed?" Cedric asked as he picked up the call.

"Yup. We're getting in the cars now. We should be there in an hour. The airport is apparently quite far." Ayanna said with a sigh.

Cedric laughed, he too was surprised the first time they came over, there was no traffic but the distance from the airport to the city was quite far.

"I'll see you all in a while." Cedric said happily as he dropped the call.

"You see! You see! That's why you need to accept Aiden's proposal." Ivan Lobo pointed out to his daughter.

"Enough." Grandpa Lobo suddenly said in a commanding tone. "Stop forcing Amanda to marry someone else. I initially agreed to this engagement because I was unaware that she had someone." 

"But dad, you promised the Ortiz patriarch, we cannot go back on our word." Ivan reminded his father. 

"We do not owe the Ortiz family anything. You will drop this issue at once." The old man ordered. 

"Do you want to meet my daughter?" Tony asked Cedric.

"Of course, she's with my son right?" Cedric said. Tony nodded in reply and led Cedric to the nursery on the 2nd floor of the house. 

Inside was a beautiful little girl who was laughing as she spoke to little Emilio.

"Look little brother, I'll pour you a cup of tea!" She said proudly as she took the toy and pretended to pour a cup for his son.

"Tea! Tea!" Little Emilio shouted. 

"Don't spill alright." The little girl said as she winked at the younger boy.

"Princess, come over here, there is someone I want you to meet." Tony said as he called the little girl over. 

"Yes daddy." She stood up and ran over to Tony's side.

"Princess, this is Uncle Cedric, he's little Emilio's father." Tony said, introducing Cedric to the child.

"Hello Uncle Cedric, my name is Rose, I'm five years old." Rose said as she held out five fingers showing her age.

Cedric smiled and patted the girl on the head. He and Tony joined the two little ones who were playing, before they knew it Adrianna and Amanda were looking for them because their guests had arrived.

Cedric carried little Emilio out of the room and down to the living room. When the child saw his grandparents he began to giggle happily. 

"Ama! Ama!" It's what he called his grandmothers since he couldn't say the whole word yet.

Priscilla Reyes went up and took her grandson from her son's arms. 

"You had a good flight?" Cedric asked his dad. 

"Yeah. It was quick, this place isn't too far. The car ride and the flight took the same time, and when we landed the governor and mayor had prepared this whole welcome ceremony with dancing and music. Alexi embarrassed them by saying that we here for a funeral." Emilio Reyes said with a laugh.

"Mr. Emilio Reyes, might I have a word?" The Lobo elder asked as he greeted Emilio. 

Emilio Reyes nodded and followed the old man. 

"He's probably going to apologize." Ray said as he appeared next to Cedric.

"For what?" Cedric asked.

"Don't be oblivious." Alexi told Cedric. 

"They won't fall the way the Hernandezes did." This time it was Ram that spoke. "They know how to adapt and recognize their mistakes. They were way ahead the moment they stopped pushing Tony to Adrianna."

"I do think the Lobo's have a better future, especially now that it seems Amanda is the only one left to take over." Cedric said, nodding in reply.

"If Amanda is willing, if not, the Lobos will end up like the Hernandezes and Clarins in the end, their assets and holdings will come under the Reyes Group." Ray noted.

"We aren't hungry for more, at least not in that way." Cedric said, shaking his head.

"You may not be, but that's how things are turning out." Ray reminded his brother-in-law.

The boys then dropped the topic and instead spent the night talking to the rest of the Lobo family about how happy Jam was when he met them. 

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