Never Judge

"Uncle Matthew didn't tell you? Mark Chu said that the only way the Hernandez family can continue to benefit from the prosperity he has given us is if we hand Adrianna over to him." Asia shouted as she pointed at Adrianna.

Cedric was shocked, the Chu family was getting out of hand. How dare they demand a married woman become the mistress of her cousin's husband. Cedric looked at his wife, she too was clearly stunned at their demands. Cedric reached out to hold her hand, as if to say that he would be with her no matter what and he would defend her no matter what.

"Uncle, was this the business partnership you wanted to talk to me about?" Adrianna slowly stood up with a stunned expression.

"The Chu family is one we cannot offend. Without their support the Hernandez family will crumble." Uncle Matthew calmly explained. "I tried to find a way out of it Adrianna. I haven't said yes yet."

Cedric was disappointed. He had expected Matthew Hernandez to be different from the rest of the Hernandez family, he thought the man had more sense than his older brother. However, it seemed that they were still quite alike.

(AN: Yes, Cedric is an ass for jumping into conclusions. No one is perfect.)

"I'm a married pregnant woman. How could you even consider this!" Adrianna said as she let her emotions take over.

"Adrianna, it's for the survival of the family." One uncle said.

"Adrianna you need to put family first." A cousin told her, he was clearly scared of losing his comfortable life.

"I haven't agreed to anything with the Chus, Adrianna." Uncle Matthew tried to explain, but it seemed Adrianna felt that this was an incredible betrayal by her family and wouldn't hear him out.

"I don't want my whore of a cousin sharing my husband!" Asia shouted as she slammed the table. "You already cheated on your husband with the Reyes heir and now you want to take my husband too! How greedy of you." Asia accused.

"Asia, the world doesn't revolve around your deluded mind of yours. I don't want you husband!" Adrianna shouted at her cousin.

"This wouldn't be an issue if you could keep your husband satisfied." Margaret accused Asia.

"Hah! At least I have a husband. How about you Margaret? You can't even get a decent man to look your way!" Asia said with a grin.

Margaret ran over to slap Asia, but was held back by Henry Hernandez.

"Let go of me Henry. Let me slap your sister!" Margaret shouted.

"If she loses her child then we really won't be able to escape the Chus." Henry said as he continued to stop Margaret.

"That's enough!" Grandpa Hernandez shouted. Everyone turned to him and calmed down.

"Shame on all of you!" Grandpa Hernandez scolded the members of his family. "My eldest son is in jail and his daughter cannot keep her husband in her bed!"

Cedric could see Margaret grinning at Grandpa Hernandez's words as he scolded Asia in her failure to keep her husband loyal. 

"And you Margaret! Don't you dare grin. How could you think of harming your cousin when she is carrying the heir to the Chu family." Cedric could see Margaret's smile turn upside down as Grandpa Hernandez scolded her as well. "Not only will you bring our doom, but you are also hurting your cousin. I will not have that in my home."

"Yes Grandpa. I am sorry." Margaret was quick to apologize to her elder.

"You are young, you have much to learn." Grandpa Hernandez said in a much calmer tone. He then looked at Matthew Hernandez with a cold glare.

"Why are you hesitating? You already know what the Chus want and still you are looking for a way out of it!" Grandpa Hernandez accused his son. 

Cedric could see from Adrianna's face that the old man was breaking her heart. It seemed he would rather sell her off than think of what was best for his granddaughter.

"Father, Adrianna is still a human being. She should not be sold like that." Uncle Matthew said in an attempt to save his decision.

"Family should come first, always. Adrianna, be ready to be sent to the Chu residence." Grandpa Hernandez ordered.

"No!" Cedric suddenly said. He never spoke in meetings of the Hernandez clan so everyone was surprised when he spoke up. "Adrianna is my wife. She is a human being, not some bargaining chip you can use."

"Shut up! You have no right to speak here, you leech." Grandpa Hernandez shouted at Cedric.

Cedric could see Gracia and Charles flinch as grandpa Hernandez threw an insult his way. They knew who he really was and they knew that the Hernandez family would never survive if they got on Cedric's bad side.

Cedric glared at the old man, everyone was stunned when they suddenly felt a change in Cedric. He suddenly seemed more confident and as if he oozed power, however grandpa Hernandez didn't back down. He continued to fling insults at Cedric, saying that Adrianna's fate was as such because he was such a weak and poor man.

Cedric had heard enough. The old man had gone too far.

"Adrianna and I don't need you or your family. We're leaving." Cedric said as he held his wife's hand and turned to leave. "Mom, dad, it's up to you if you will stay or follow." Cedric said as he kept his back turned at everyone else and began to walk away.

"Cedric, Adrianna, wait I'm sure something else can be arranged. My dad is very traditional and doesn't understand things properly." Uncle Matthew said as he tried to chase the couple. He always had a feeling that there was something off about Cedric, that he was hiding something. Not just anyone could get Raymund Laurence to sit next to you, he had witnessed it first hand how Raymund Laurence had turned down the seat of honor, twice, to sit next to Cedric. 

He also found it odd that Cedric and Adrianna had been invited to Kashmere, but he didn't see them arrive or go into any of the guest villas. He had also seen Cedric and Adrianna sit on the same table as the princes and their sisters. Something was suspicious about Cedric Reyes, and Matthew Hernandez was not willing to risk offending someone who could potentially be so well connected.

"Take one more step Matthew and the President of Island's Inc. will change." Grandpa Hernandez threatened his son. Uncle Matthew looked at his daughter, Margaret, who was shaking her head, telling him to listen to the old man.

Cedric looked back and saw Uncle Matthew stop going after them as Gracia and Charles stood up to follow. 

Cedric drove everyone back home. The car ride was quiet since no one knew what to say. Everyone was at a loss over what had just happened.

Cedric took Adrianna's hand and held it tightly.

"Adri, don't worry. No matter what, I will protect you. You don't need to return to Island's Inc." Cedric told his wife. He would honestly be much happier if she just spent her days accompanying him at the Reyes Group.

"No. I'll come into work tomorrow." Adrianna stubbornly said.

"Adri, what if your grandfather sends you away?" Gracia said with a worried look on her face. She knew that they shouldn't underestimate the Hernandez family especially since their survival was on the line.

"I have Mia with me mom. Plus she has her fleet of bodyguards as back up right outside Island's Inc. I'll be fine." Adrianna said with a smile.