Never Judge

When they finally made it down they were greeted by Priscilla Reyes who had just come home from a spa weekend with Gracia, Aurora, and Lucy Chan.

"You guys are so good looking!" His mother exclaimed as she walked over and pinched little Emilio's cheeks. The little boy had been so spoiled by all of his grandparents that he knew to reach for them whenever they were near.

Priscilla Reyes frowned as she decided not to pick the little one up. "I'm sorry baby, but grandma is tired from her trip, stay in your mom's arms alright?" Priscilla said as she patted the little boy on the head.

"Is everyone here?" Cedric asked.

"Almost everyone. Miguel and Ram are running late from work, but everyone else is already in the backyard." Priscilla said with a gentle smile. 

"Alright. Let's join them." Cedric said as he rolled himself out to the back.

"Let me help you." His mother-in-law Gracia Hernandez said as she pushed Cedric's wheelchair.

"Mom, don't." Cedric complained. 

"Mom, here carry Emilio while I push Cedric." Adrianna quickly handed her son over to her mother as she took over. 

As they walked into the backyard they were greeted by the happy faces of their family and friends.

It was the first time that all of their friends and almost all of their relatives had gathered with them, Cedric was hoping that this time there would be little drama unlike during Ayanna and Ray's wedding.

Cedric smiled when he saw Nicole in Ian's arms as they spoke to Raphael and Eric Chan. The Chan parents had happily accepted Ian and it was only Nicole that refused to marry him. If Ian and her parents were to have their way, the couple would have been married before Nicole began showing. 

"Cedric, it's been a while." Adrianna's friend, Julia Tiu said as she approached. 

"Hi Julia." Cedric said with a nod. "I've been swamped with work and haven't been able to accompany Adrianna on any of your trips." 

"It's alright." Adrianna's friend, Sofia said, injecting herself into the conversation. "None of us have husbands or boyfriends so it's not a bother."

"Although I expect Julia to get married soon." Natasha, another friend of Adrianna's said with a laugh.

"Why? Is Julia dating someone?" Cedric asked.

"No, her dad wants an arranged marriage. So old fashioned right?" Sofia said as she rolled her eyes. 

"Has he mentioned a name?" Cedric asked the girls.

"No, none yet." Julia said with a frown. "I'm still trying to convince him that all the top families don't practice that anymore, but he keeps using Miguel Chan and Veronica Abad as an example." Julia said with a sigh. 

"Well Miguel and Veronica are a unique case, Miguel actually convinced the families to do an arranged marriage to save Veronica from marrying someone who wanted to use her." Cedric said with a shrug. "You can ask Miguel or Veronica themselves, but I think Miguel isn't here yet and Veronica probably went with the driver to pick her husband up. Miguel has been going through a rough time recently."

"Thanks!" Julia said happily. "I'll talk to them." 

"Cedric!" Alexi called out from the other end of the table, waving at him. Cedric waved back and Adrianna wheeled him over.

"You know Adri, you can stay with your friends. I can manage on my own." Cedric was worried that she was too tired from work.

"Ced, we barely get to spend time together, and now you want to send me away?" Adrianna complained. 

"Adri it's not that, I'm just worried that you are too tired." Cedric said. 

"I'll keep you company. I miss you." Adrianna said as they approached Alexi and Jen whom he had brought along. 

"I'm surprised you agreed to come along." Cedric teased Nurse Jen. 

"Alexi was very, errrr persuasive." Jen said with a laugh.

"Jen has agreed to give me a chance." Alexi said proudly as he placed a hand on her waist. Cedric could see that Jen wasn't comfortable with Alexi holding her, but she didn't say anything so Cedric simply assumed that she was trying to get used to the physical display of affection.

"So Jen, how are you getting along with the rest of the Sebastians?" Adrianna asked as she sat next to Jen.

"I honestly think Aunt Rebekah doesn't like me." Jen said shyly.

"Nonsense. Aunt Rebekah is just cold at the beginning probably because of the career she chose. She's a lawyer like Katerina, and Katerina can be quite intimidating when you first meet her." Adrianna said with a laugh, she too was intimidated by the international lawyer when she met Katerina, later on she realized that Katerina was just tough because she had to be.

"Katerina doesn't seem to like me too much either." Jen said as she played with her glass. 

"Katerina always chooses to keep her distance from Alexi's girls, don't take it personally." Cedric said "I guess she's just gotten used to them not lasting as long, I think you're the longest and you and Alexi aren't even together." Cedric explained.

"Katerina has a mind of her own. Ignore her." Alexi said as she held Jen's hand tightly.

"Alexi, of course I want your family to like me." Jen said as she rolled her eyes. "I know we aren't together, but if you really are serious about me I should consider your family as well."

"But you aren't eventually going to marry my family, all you need to consider is me." Alexi said with a cocky smile.

"First of all I never said I would marry you." Jen groaned. "Second, you can't just abandon your family like that!" 

"You will marry me, and I don't care if my family disowns me." Alexi said proudly. "I'll go against the world for you." Alexi said with a smile.

Jen seemed to be embarrassed by what he said and decided to keep her head down. 

"Jen, I'm serious about you, about us." Alexi picked up her hand and held it tightly. "I've never been more sure about anything in my life." Alexi insisted.

"He's saying the truth you know." Katerina said as she approached with Eric holding her hand. "I've never seen my brother more serious or more dedicated to anything or anyone."

"I thought you didn't like me." Jen said as she looked up at Katerina who was standing next to Alexi's seat.

"I don't like girls who date my brother in general, and I don't like people in general, so don't take it personally." Katerina said with a shrug.