Never Judge

"Thank you Miss Ayanna." Cedric said respectfully to his sister. 

"If she causes you any trouble Cedric, feel free to call Dave. I'm sure my brother would be more than willing to help you." Ayanna said as she dropped the call.

"Do I need to make a call?" Cedric asked as he glared at Mary and Lorisa.

Mary's face turned sour as she dealt with the embarrassing blow. "Is that child even yours Cedric?" Mary asked angrily.

"I'm honestly tired of your accusations of infidelity." Cedric groaned. "I do have Dave's number." Cedric said as he waved his phone at the duo.

"Someday those Reyeses will get tired of you." Lorisa said as she pulled Mary away and walked out of the store.

"I'm sorry." Cedric said as he planted a light kiss on Adrianna's head. "I didn't think we would encounter people like them here. I forgot that Lorisa gave birth."

"It's okay." Adrianna said as she looked up at her husband with a smile.

"Mommy, Daddy, Toy!" Emilio excitedly said as he proudly showed his parents a toy car that he wanted.

"Okay little one, we'll buy that." Cedric said with a laugh as he held his son's hand and walked over to the cashier.

After buying the toy car and a few gifts for Tristan, Cedric decided to walk around the mall. He wanted to see the improvements his sister had brought on. In the past year, Elisia Malls had expanded beyond anyone's expectations.

"Daddy, ice cream!" Emilio called out as he pointed to an ice cream shop.

"Emilio, we're having lunch with Auntie Nicole and Uncle Ian and Tristan, you'll ruin your appetite." Cedric told his son as they walked by the ice cream cart.

"Honey, it's just ice cream." Adriann said in a sweet tone to Cedric.

"Do you remember what happened last time?" Cedric asked as he cocked his head to the side.

"Fine." Adrianna said as she rolled her eyes.

"You can have ice cream after lunch." Cedric said as they continued to walk through the mall. Every now and then Cedric would spot one of Leon's men positioned to protect them. 

"It's moments like earlier that I really wish people knew who I was." Cedric said with a sigh as he let Emilio run ahead of them. There were so many guards that it was unlikely anyone could pick Emilio up and kidnap him.

"Just a little longer." Adrianna said with a guilty look in her eyes.

"Adri, I don't blame you." Cedric said with a gentle smile. "We are safer this way. It's clear that if the people behind MT Summit knew who I was they would come after you and Emilio, and I can never let that happen." Cedric said with a determined look.

"Daddy, daddy! I met a new friend." Little Emilio suddenly cried out as he ran back to Cedric and Adrianna with a man walking behind him.

"Aiden!" Cedric said in surprise as he greeted the younger man. 

"Cedric, Adrianna, I didn't expect this charming little boy to be your son." Aiden Ortiz said as he greeted Cedric quite warmly. "I heard the sad news, did the Reyes Group really not sign over your release?" In order to properly reject the job offer that Regis Inc. had given him, Cedric told them that the Reyes Group refused to allow him to work for a competitor. They weren't in the same industries but the families that owned them were old rivals.

"Yes, it was unfortunate." Cedric said with a frown.

"So this is the little boy that all the rumors are crazy about." Aiden said as he ruffled Emilio's hair. "One look at him and he is clearly yours." Aiden said with a grin.

"Thanks." Cedric said, unsure of what to say. It sounded like an insult and a compliment at the same time.

"Adrianna, how is Amanda?" Aiden awkwardly asks.

"She's happy." Adrianna said with a smile. She honestly preferred Tony for Amanda because Amanda and Tony loved each other, but Adrianna couldn't help but admit that Aiden wasn't a bad guy.

"Good to hear." Aiden said with a sad look. "Anyway, I should go. I have lunch plans with a friend. I hope we bump into each other again."

Cedric nodded and looked at his watch, they too should be heading to Nicole's and Ian's home now. 

"Daddy, nice Uncle?" Emilio asked as he tugged on his father's hand. He was three, but he seemed to understand more than the average three year old.

"Yes, that was Uncle Aiden, he's nice." Cedric said with a smile as he picked his son up in one arm and held Adrianna's hand with another as he led his little family down to the parking lot.

With little Emilio growing up and Cedric wanting to spend more father and son time with him, he decided to purchase a simple sedan that wasn't as eye-catching as his other cars. Of course he had all of them fitted with the best security measures money could buy and Leon and his team still trailed them at a distance.

Today Cedric decided to drive his wife and son himself to the mall, so when the unassuming car drove up to the community that Nicole and Ian lived at the guard stopped them.

"Hey, man, this isn't some community you can just enter." The guard said as he approached Cedric's car.

Before Cedric could respond that he was a guest a flashy red sports car stopped beside his. Cedric wanted to laugh when he realized whose car it was. 

The window slowly rolled down and a smiling Eric waved at Cedric.

"Is Emilio with you?" Eric asked as he ignored the guard that was now shocked that one of their most prominent residents was casually speaking to the guy in an ordinary man's car.

"Yes, we're having lunch with Nicole and Ian." Cedric said with a nod.

"What? And my sister didn't invite me?" Eric asked angrily. "Wait, why are you just stopped here?" Eric asked with a puzzled look.

"Sir, are they guests?" The guard asked, he wasn't used to seeing ordinary cars drive up to the community. Even Eric's manager had a fancy car, and he rarely went to visit Eric.

"Yes. Let them in." Eric said, making the guard run up to the gate and open it for Cedric and his group.

"He should have realized by the convoy." Eric said rolling his eyes. Anytime Cedric or his family went anywhere an eye catching convoy of security vehicles followed at a distance. So when they came to a stop by the community gates the convoy piled up as well. Normally a car wouldn't be able to get close to Cedric's but his security team recognized Eric's car based on it's plates.