Never Judge

Among all of his friends' significant others Cedric knew the least about Francesca. 

True, she was an internationally acclaimed actress, but she only let the public know what she was willing to share. 

As the sister of the head of the Rocci family, her personal information was sealed even more tightly. There were many rumors and false leads, but nothing concrete. 

Cedric had tried getting some information from Ray who was technically the boss of Francesca's older brother, but apparently there was some underworld rule against it.

Sisters and daughters were not to be touched, even when they had done harm, those from within the underworld were not allowed to investigate or harm them. They were considered treasures of their families and they all wanted to protect them.

This stemmed from the outdated belief that women were not capable of protecting themselves. The old heads of the underworld believed that women were meant to stay at home and do their duties there.

But as the years progressed, some of these daughters and sisters became almost as lethal as their brothers and the other men in their families. Because of this Ram's father had set up a compromise.

Women were answerable to other women, just as the heads of each criminal family answered to the King of the Underworld, the women answered to his legal wife.

Technically Cedric could ask his sister, Ayanna, to make Francesca give him all the information he needed. But out of respect for Ram's girlfriend, Cedric decided against it.

He believed that forcing an investigation into her background would do them more bad than good. And if there was something that she wanted to truly keep a secret from them, she could hide it.

"Are you sure?" Ram asked Francesca as he held her hand tightly. 

Cedric was glad that Francesca and Ram had truly come to love one another, even if their relationship did not have a traditional start. 

"I am." Francesca said with a nod and a determined look on her face.

Francesca took a deep breath and gathered her courage as everyone waited for her to speak.

"As many of you know by now my relationship with the Rocci family has always been rocky." Francesca began. "I basically left my family to pursue my acting career because my father and brother were blocking every opportunity I got."

Everyone suddenly turned to look at Ram, who raised his hands, signifying his innocence in the matter.

"I had nothing to do with it." Ram said as he shook his head. "When Francesca entered the entertainment industry I was still trying my best to figure out the ropes. Dad hadn't given me full control yet." He explained. 

"You probably would have still stopped her from entering the industry." Veronica pointed out. "You're overprotective, just like her brothers."

"I understand a person's need to spread their wings." Ram said as he rolled his eyes at his sister. 

"I doubt it." Veronica said with a laugh.

Ram tried to argue back but Francesca gave him one look and he kept quiet.

"As I was saying, I haven't had an easy journey in this industry. When I had found someone to support me, he died." Francesca said with a frown.

"It's okay, I know you loved him dearly." Ram said as he comforted his girlfriend. "I will forever be grateful that he loved you and cared about you that much. Without him, you wouldn't be the strong and brave woman you are today."

"Ram, you're getting too cheesy." Veronica complained as she rolled her eyes at her brother.

"It's the truth." Ram said as he continued to look at Francesca.

Cedric could see as a blush crossed Francesca's face. She looked at Ram and gave him a tender smile.

The couple shared a tender moment before Ian suddenly coughed. 

Cedric watched as Nicole elbowed him in the ribs, seemingly scolding him for ruining the moment.

"Anyway," Francesca said as she continued her story. "During one of my projects I managed to befriend a young and promising model, and like me she was from a family that did not like the industry she was entering." 

"Wait, you knew her last name?" Selina asked as she gave Francesca a confused look.

"She gave me a different family name." Francesca explained, shaking her head. "She told me that she needed to hide her identity because if her parents and brother found out what she was doing she wouldn't be allowed out of the house again."

"And you sympathised with her." Eric said with a nod as he gave Francesca a concerned look. "She was just like you."

"Yes." Francesca answered. "She was like me and I was like her. We were both trying to escape families that refused to let us follow our dreams, we connected." 

"Was he still alive at this time?" Ram asked, unable to mention the name of Francesca's ex.

"Yes, that's why we were just friends." Francesca said as she looked at Ram.

Cedric knew she noticed that he couldn't say the name of Francesca's ex fiance and it seemed that Francesca was fine with it. She understood him and she didn't want to force him to simply accept and treat it as nothing.

"When my ex fiance died, Louisse approached me and offered her condolences. I, of course, saw her as a friend at that time and accepted her company willingly." Francesca explained. "She kept me company for a while, until she began making inappropriate moves towards me." 

Francesca frowned as she recalled what had happened to her.

"I always thought she was a friend, that she cared for me in that way, but one night I realized she was after something else." Francesca said with a frown.

  "Are you sure you can keep telling this story?" Ram asked as he wrapped his arms around Francesca, trying to soothe her.

"Don't worry, I'm stronger now because of you." Francesca said as she planted a kiss on Ram's cheek. 

Francesca took a deep breath and continued speaking.

"One night, we were having some wine and chatting. I suddenly felt hot and sleepy. Louisse offered to help me to my room, and of course I let her." Francesca said with a frown. "That was when- when-" 

Francesca's voice broke as she struggled to speak. Ram tried to tell her to stop but she shook her head telling him that she needed to tell her story that she was afraid of always being in the shadows.

She said she needed to stand up for herself and let her voice be heard on things that mattered.