Never Judge

"I'm already married, why am I nervous." Ray said as he paced back and forth inside his room. 

Cedric had left the Reyes Mansion early to fulfill his best man duties. When he woke up he was surprised to see that his wife was already out of bed and in Ayanna's room getting her hair and make up done.

"Relax Ray." Cedric said with a laugh as he watched his friend stress out about the upcoming nuptials. "It's not like my sister can change her mind." He teased the groom.

"Well, she could always divorce him." Alexi teased as he entered the room. He was the first to arrive among the boys.

"Don't listen to him Ray." Cedric said with a laugh. "He's in a worse spot than you."

"Hah, I've figured things out. Don't be so confident Cedric." Alexi said as he took a seat in the room.

"It's not like you have a choice, you still brought Jen, didn't you?" Cedric asked.

"Yeah, she'll meet me at the church." Alexi said with an annoyed look. He clearly didn't like it that Jen would be his date to an important wedding.

"You know, you wouldn't have had to bring her if you didn't make your engagement public." Eric teased as he entered the room. He arrived together with Ian and Miguel in tow.

"We dropped the girls off at your house then we had to go to the Chan family home, mom and dad wanted us to bring the wedding gift." Miguel said with a shrug.

"Are they still trying to convince the elders to accept Ian?" Cedric asked.

"Yeah, but it's not like their opinion would stop me from marrying Nicole. The only one stopping me from marrying Nicole is Nicole." Ian complained as he shook his head.

"Ram's not here yet?" Miguel asked as he looked around.

"Nah. He is dropping Francesca off at Selina's place. She'll go there with the Ramirez family." Ray explained. "I don't understand why she doesn't just go with her dad and brother. The Rocci's belong to the same world as the Laurences so it's natural that they are invited." 

"I heard she wasn't exactly on good terms with them." Eric said with a shrug.

"If they weren't on good terms then she wouldn't have been able to go after that woman that offended her." Ray said, rolling his eyes.

"She probably went to them out of desperation then chose to leave again." Cedric explained. "Anyway, why are we talking about another person's family problems when it's your big day."

"You're right. I should focus." Ray said with a nod.

"And we should leave." Cedric said as he looked at his watch. "If we don't leave now the bride will arrive before us and my sister will gut all of us." Cedric said as he led the group out. 

For this occasion his sister would be riding in Cedric's favorite Rolls Royce Ghost while Ray, the groom, and his groomsmen all piled up in one car each. 

Ray, Alexi, and Eric chose to go in flashy sports cars while Ian and Miguel rode in Miguel's Cadillac. Cedric as always, chose to ride in his Rolls Royce Phantom. 

In order to avoid getting stuck in the city traffic, Alexi had arranged for an escort of police and military vehicles to clear the way for them to the church.

As their convoy drove across the capital, people couldn't help but turn their heads at the flashy cars and the number of security vehicles escorting them.

People considered this to be the wedding of the decade, with everyone who was anyone invited to the ceremony and the reception after. Ayanna and Ray decided to inform the public of the wedding just the night before, so the whole country woke up to the news of the wedding.

When they arrived at the church Ray was the last to get out of his car. A driver took it away and drove it home for Ray. After the ceremony he and Ayanna would be taking Cedric's Rolls Royce Ghost to the reception and a driver would take them home to their house in the Mountain View community after. 

"Well, this is it." Cedric said with a shrug, he was already wearing his disguise.

"It's not like we're getting married for the first time." Ray said, shaking his head.

The group of handsome men marched up the steps to the doors of the huge church. It was Ray who had chosen the church they would have their ceremony at, it was the same church where every head of the Laurence family had been married. It was one of the oldest in the capital and had survived both the damage of war and the effects of time.

"Mom, Dad." Ray said as he was greeted by his parents who would walk with him into the church and up to the altar.

"We are so proud of you Ray." His mother, Amy So- Laurence said as she hugged her son tight.

"Mom, Ayanna and I have been married for a year." Ray said with a laugh as he hugged his mother back.

"Well, this is different. This is where your dad and I got married, and where Ayanna's parents were married too." Amy Laurence said as she began to tear up. "My little boy is now truly a man."

"Auntie, he's been a man for quite a while now." Alexi teased, earning him an elbow from Cedric.

"Let's go." Ray said as he noticed another convoy of cars approaching. He knew it was his bride and her bridesmaids.

As the best man Cedric entered the church right after Ray and his parents, he didn't even get the opportunity to see his wife or his son before they marched down the aisle as part of the entourage.

Adrianna was the matron of honor and Emilio would be carrying the rings. He was excited to see his son and wife, but he knew he couldn't show any physical affection for them. He was there as the head of the Reyes Family, and as of the moment, that person and Cedric Reyes were two different people.