Never Judge

Grandpa Chan stood on stage as he welcomed Lucius Ting. Cedric looked at his friends, Nicole and Miguel on stage, both initially had a look of surprise, but they quickly covered it up with fake smiles as Lucius passed them.

"This man is Lucius Ting." Grandpa Chan introduced as he placed a hand on Lucius' shoulder.

Cedric looked around, observing the confused and shocked look that the audience had on their faces, many had begun whispering among themselves.

"Do you think he is the old patriarch's illegitimate son?" A woman at the next table whispered. Her voice was loud enough that Cedric could hear her conversation with her companions.

"Well, men from that social circle are known to have mistresses, but it's odd that his wife would be willing to welcome the boy. Madam Chan has provided him with two sons, and their eldest already has a son." Her companion whispered back.

"But Miguel Chan isn't the one running Saints Hospital." The woman countered. "Isn't it odd that the youngest child, a daughter, is the one managing all of their business interests."

Cedric looked at Eric, clearly he was pissed by the conversation on the next table.

"So he brought in this illegitimate son to inherit?" The male companion asked.

"Sounds possible, from what I have heard the Chan family is very sexist." Another person at the table said. 

"So the old man might change his will?" The man on the table with them asked.

"You never know with these rich old families, so much drama." The woman said quite excitedly.

"That's what I'm afraid of." Eric said in a low voice. "Grandpa could make Lucius inherit almost everything."

"Do you think he will change his will immediately?" Alexi asked.

"Honestly, I don't know what's going on in my grandfather's mind." Eric said with a sigh. "My siblings and I have been trying to guess how far he is willing to push it with Lucius Ting."

"He still has shares at Saints Hospital, right?" Cedric asked.

"Yes, but very little, he passed most of them off to my father. Another part of the shares were given to me, it was a way to convince me to stay in the family business." Eric explained. 

"Your father mentioned that he may be doing this out of guilt." Cedric said as he recounted the Chan family visit to his office.

"Grandpa did indirectly kill his own son, so it's not unlikely that he is trying to make up for Uncle Miguel's death." Eric said with a shrug. "If Lucius Ting is my Uncle Miguel's son, then he is family."

"Will you guys ask me to go easy on him?" Cedric asked as he glanced at the stage. The old man still hadn't explained his association to the Chan family and the guests were gossiping. 

"We'll see." Eric said with a sigh. "As long as his intentions aren't ill then yes, we will ask you not to go all out against him."

"What does your gut feel say, Eric? Is he your cousin?" Ram asked.

"Logic tells me that he is." Eric said in a serious tone as he watched his grandfather pull Lucius Ting to a hug. "But something about him feels off, feels wrong."

"Maybe it's because he has plans on hurting everyone and anyone you care about." Cedric said. "Aiden poisoned his mind to think the worst of us, I don't have all the details, but Camilla and Benedict should have it for us soon."

"Our dear guests." Grandpa Chan said as he finally spoke on the stage. "This man, Lucius Ting is my grandson." 

The guests gasped in surprise, many were not expecting what Grandpa Chan was about to say.

Their eyes quickly turned to Raphael Chan, who couldn't help but laugh, confusing them even more.

When Cedric noticed them looking at his uncle Raphael he realized what they were thinking.

"Ha, they think Lucius is your father's illegitimate son!" Cedric told Eric as he laughed.

"Ugh, eww, no." Eric said, rolling his eyes. "I'm not even sure if my father ever cheated on my mother."

"Would you want to know?" Cedric asked his friend.

"It would be nice to know if there are people out there who could threaten Nicole's position."  Eric said with a shrug as he returned his attention to the stage.

"No, no, Lucius Ting is not an illegitimate son." The old man said, shaking his head and smiling. "He is actually the son of my second son, Miguel Chan, who passed away too soon. We thought Lucius had passed away with his mother, but we were shocked when an old family friend found him."

"Oh shit." Cedric cursed from his seat.

"What is Ced?" Adrianna asked her husband.

"Grandpa Chan is going to say it was I that helped them find Lucius." Cedric hissed.

"Why would he do that?" Ray asked.

"Because I gave them all the information about Lucius." Cedric said, shaking his head. 

"Lucius will know that you have been keeping tabs on him." Eric said with a gasp as he realized what was about to happen.

"He will call you up there to say something." Alexi added.

"I have a plan. I just hope that Lucius Ting buys it." Cedric told his friends as they returned their attention to the stage. 

"Now, I know this young man hates the spotlight being on him." Grandpa Chan continued to say. "But he was born to be at the center of everyone's attention, I hope you will entertain this old man's request, your grandpa and I go way back." Grandpa Chan said as he looked Cedric directly in the eyes.

Cedric nodded, confirming that he wouldn't embarrass the old man by rejecting his request to come on stage.

"It was actually Cedric Reyes that notified us about someone who could be related to the Chan family." Grandpa Chan said as soon as he noticed Cedric's nod. "Cedric, my boy, will you come up and join us?"

Cedric nodded and got up, he placed a hand on Eric's shoulder and nodded at his friend, this matter was as much his problem as it was theirs.

"Good luck." Adrianna told her husband as he planted a kiss on her head and left for the stage.