Never Judge

"Why is it always us?" Christopher grumbled as he fixed his tie while his older brother, Emilio was seated on his desk, busy studying. "You and Aldrich never have to go to these events, I just want to stay home too!"

Emilio laughed at his younger brother and shook his head.

"Shouldn't you have outgrown this phase by now?" Emilio asked as he kept his head down, focused on the book in front of him. "You're fifteen, Christopher. And you of all people know why I can't go."

Christopher sighed and shook his head as he turned to face his older brother.

"How do I look?" He asked as he stretched his arms wide and grinned at Emilio.

"Good." Emilio said with a smile. "Like a true child of the Reyes family. Represent us well, brother."

"Yoyo?" Adrianna called out as she searched the house for her eldest son. Only his mother and aunts called him Yoyo now, it was his nickname in his youth.

"In here mom, Christopher is with me." He answered.

Christopher frowned when he heard his brother tell Adrianna where he was.

"She's going to rush me." Christopher groaned as he walked over to Emilio.

"Well, you are running late. Dad is the guest of honor, you shouldn't be too late." Emilio told his brother with a charming smile, one quite similar to their father's.

"Christopher! I swear, you take longer than Christina to get ready." Adrianna was furious when she entered the room wearing a floor length gown making her seem like she was in her twenties rather than her fifties.

"But mom, can't I just stay with Emilio here at home. I came from the company today with dad and I'm exhausted." Christopher whined as he begged his mother to let him skip the occasion.

"Christopher Reyes, you know how important the Reyes Group's anniversary is! Don't you dare avoid attending." Adrianna scolded her son. "And don't you dare think for a moment that Yoyo's situation is better than yours."

"Mom's right. The anniversary is important." Emilio told his younger brother as he grinned.

"Plus, I'm sure Yoyo and Aldrich will find a way to seek in, as usual." Adrianna winked at her son, making Emilio laugh.

Over the years, he and his cousin had become notorious for sneaking into events that their parents had to attend.

Sometimes they would appear as guests, other times as workers, waiters, and even once as a bodyguard for Christopher. Something that the younger boy did not enjoy.

"I'll be attending with some classmates from University. You know that I've been an intern at the Reyes group for months now. I should be hired as a full time employee soon." Emilio informed both his mother and brother.

"Go ahead, Christopher. I want to have a word with Yoyo. Your father and sister are waiting in the car." Adrianna waved her son off, who could only roll his eyes as he walked out of Emilio's study.

"Favorite." Christopher grumbled as he slammed the door behind him.

Emilio laughed and shook his head as he placed his documents away. He wasn't just studying for class, he was also studying several documents about the Reyes group that his father, Cedric Reyes, had given him.

"Yoyo, I know that Christopher thinks that you are living the better life, but we both know it isn't as easy as he thinks." Adrianna told her son as she sat on a chair placed across him.

"Mom, I'm just happy that things are better. I know what dad had to go through and he changed things because of me." Emilio smiled at his mother. He knew Adrianna was always worried about him, but he was fine. There was nothing he could want for.

"Seven years." Adrianna told her son with a smile. "In seven years your father will be able to introduce you as the Reyes Heir. It will be better than when it was his turn, plus you better learn from his mistake and not lie to your wife for so long."

"Mom!" Yoyo complained. "I might not even be married by then!"

"You've dated, haven't you? Don't pretend you haven't because that is a lie." Adrianna teased her son, making his ears turn red in embarrassment.

"Of course I have." Emilio told his mother as he saw no point in denying the fact. "They just gave me a shot just in case I come from a certain rich Reyes family."

Adrianna laughed and shook her head.

"The number of social climbers and gold diggers out there are crazy." Adrianna recalled the women in her time who were also quite eager to be with the Reyes Heir.

"How did dad deal with them? I mean, I'm sure back then women dated him just because of his surname too." Emilio asked his mother, who, to his surprise, suddenly burst out laughing.

"Well, first of all back then the Reyes family was much more discreet. The paparazzi and reporters didn't follow your grandparents and aunt as much as they follow us now." Adrianna explained to her son.

"But they were the richest? Right?" Emilio had never heard his parents speaking about the past, particularly the time when his father was still undergoing his poverty training.

"They were, but the public believed that the Reyes Heir was actually studying in another country. Plus, you know how common your last name is. How many Reyeses are in your class?" Adrianna laughed as she remembered how everyone brushed off the Reyes surname in the past.

"At least two in every class." Emilio smiled at his mother.

"I should go, I just wanted to check on you. I know you and Aldrich will be there too." Adrianna walked up and hugged her son. "I'm happy your father changed the practice, I'm not willing to let you live your life without us."

"We'll be there mom, we can't miss the anniversary, I'm the Reyes heir after all." Emilio said as he smiled proudly at his mom.