Never Judge

After a round of introductions Ayanna carried little Emilio as she and Marie played with him. This allowed grandma Reyes and Aurora to speak to Adrianna. 

"Cedric, I'm so happy you chose a smart woman!" Aunt Aurora praised. "Most women now just want to go back to the old ways, where they marry rich and live life like a rich man's mistress." 

"Not everyone is like that auntie." Ayanna said. 

"Of course not dear. But for example, what's that girl's name. The one that tried to sleep with Eric Chan and ended up moving to Madrid?" Aunt Aurora asked.

"Ugh. Calathea Carpio." Ayanna said with a disgusted tone. 

"That's her. I met her mom when we were in London once. She told me how Calathea didn't contribute at all to the family business. I think they are also trying to keep her away so she can't mess it up!" Aunt Aurora said in a scandalized tone. 

"Calathea Carpio hasn't done any good for that family.’’ Miguel said as he arrived hand in hand with Veronica. "Auntie Aurora, I think the air in Europe makes you younger."

"Such a flirt! Your wife will get jealous." Aunt Aurora teased Miguel and Veronica.

"Grandma, are you immortal or something?" Miguel asked Grandma Bonifacia. 

"You're my doctor, you should know." Grandma Bonifacia said, making everyone laugh at her response.

A maid soon announced that dinner was ready. While they were seated around the table Marco So arrived. 

"Ah! Marco, join us!" Grandpa Emilio, who sat at the head of the table, said as he pointed at the empty seat between Cedric and Marie.

"Sir, I couldn't." Marco hesitated.

"I insist." Grandpa Emilio said in a stern but friendly tone.

Marco had no choice but to sit next to Marie. 

"It's amazing how Marco has worked so long for your dad that he is treated like family." Adrianna whispered to her husband.

"Ha, there is another reason." Cedric said as he grinned at his wife. His grandpa was actually playing matchmaker at the moment.

"Tell me." Adrianna said as she tugged on Cedric's sleeve.

"Later, upstairs." Cedric said as he winked at his wife.

When dinner was done Grandpa Emilio told Marco to send Aurora, Anastacio, and Marie home. Their house was just a five minute drive within the same community so there really was no need, but Grandpa Emilio insisted and Marco could do nothing but follow. 

Cedric then brought his grandparents to their room, Veronica and Miguel walked with them since it was the same direction as the access to the guest house.

"Little Anna, you've really outdone yourself!" Grandma Bonifacia praised.

"Grandma, I go by Veronica now, but thank you. I'm so happy you approve of what I've done with the place." Veronica told the old woman.

"It's such a waste that people won't get to see the work you've done here." Grandpa Emilio said, shaking his head.

"Grandpa, what matters to me is that Cedric and Adrianna like their home. Other people don't need to see it." Veronica told grandpa Emilio. 

"Did I tell you that we met a few arab businessmen that were boasting about how you had done their homes?" Grandpa Emilio asked Veronica. 

"No grandpa, but I've done a lot of homes for rich people." Veronica said with a laugh.

"They said their home was your best work. I think Mountain View is your best work." Grandpa Emilio praised.

"Well, here we are." Cedric announced as he opened the double door into the guest room. 

The elders bid Cedric, Miguel, and Veronica goodnight before finally closing the door and going to bed. 

"I've always liked your grandparents so much more than mine." Miguel said with a laugh.

"Grandpa Emilio and Grandma Bonifacia are so warm and kind. Miguel's and mine are so stiff and so formal sometimes. I think it's because they've always been rich and the only thing they really worry about is getting richer and keeping the wealth in the family." Veronica said with a sigh.

"Don't be silly, my grandparents are normal grandparents." Cedric said with a laugh. "You guys should go to bed. If I'm not mistaken, the duke grandpa and grandma met last night is flying in tomorrow for an operation by Miguel." 

"You're too well informed." Miguel said with a laugh as they said goodnight to Cedric before going their separate ways. 

On the way back to his room Cedric saw his father carrying a bag, walking across the living room, all dressed up.

"Dad, where are you going? It's quite late." Cedric asked.

"Oh, there's an emergency at R Tower." Emilio Reyes said as he walked towards the direction of the door.

"Where's Marco? Didn't he come to pick you up?" Cedric asked.

"He's assigned to Marie for the duration of the trip remember? Anyway, Ian isn't used to my habits yet and this is something I can manage. Good night son." Emilio said as he walked out of the door.

"Good night dad." Cedric said slowly as he was sure Emilio couldn't hear him anymore. His father seemed to be in quite a rush as he darted out the door as soon as he had the chance.

Cedric found this extremely odd. Normally if there was a problem in the company his father could just slip into the home office and work from there. There was no need to go to R Tower. If the emergency really was that bad, wouldn't the company have informed Marco? It only took five minutes to get from Cedric's mansion to Marie's so Marco would have already dropped them off by that time. 

Cedric mindlessly climbed up the stairs to his room as he wondered why his father was leaving in the middle of the night. When he got in he found Adrianna breastfeeding their son. 

"Something bothering you?" Adrianna asked her husband.

"Yeah, dad just left in the middle of the night. He said something about an emergency in R Tower." Cedric told Adrianna.

"That's perfectly normal Cedric, and maybe he has a hard time sleeping without your mom." Adrianna said.

"Well, that's true. Mom rarely goes on business trips that last longer than a day, and when it does dad often goes with her." Cedric said.

"See that's it." Adrianna nodded and smiled. "You still owe me an explanation." 

"About what?" Cedric asked his wife as he undressed. 

Adrianna just gave him a look and he remembered what he said during dinner.

"Let me wash up and join you in bed. I'll tell you after." Cedric said as he slipped into the bathroom.

By the time Cedric was done, little Emilio was fast asleep in his crib and Adrianna was scrolling through her phone.

"I guess I owe you a story." Cedric said as he climbed into bed.

"Yup." Adrianna placed her phone away to give Cedric her full attention. 

"Grandpa wasn't being too nice to Marco." Cedric explained. "Marco is in a way part of the Reyes family." 

Adrianna gasped. "Don't tell me he's someone's illegitimate son?"