Never Judge

"You didn't know? But your husband was there! They caused trouble because he said his boss wouldn't see them without an appointment. Cedric didn't tell you? That's odd. Well, one day, dad, John, and Asia marched over in order to speak to the Reyes Heir. They assume that since there are rumors flying around about how he liked you they could march right in and speak to him. In the lobby however, they meet your husband, when they tell him they are there to meet with his boss, Cedric asks if they have an appointment, of course they don't. That's when all hell breaks loose!" Henry said as he proceeded to recount what happened with Katerin throwing his sister out of the building and calling her trash.

"Well Miss Katerina isn't wrong there. Asia is trash." Margaret said.

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"She got lucky that her pregnancy wasn't aborted, but since that day things have been difficult for us. The only part of Island's Inc. that was running well for a time was whatever project you were handling Adrianna. It was as if the higher powers were blocking our every move." Henry explained.

Adrianna wondered why Cedric never told her about the incident at Mor Co. Adrianna simply assumed that since it would be quite difficult to explain that's why he never told her.

The group finished their lunch and Henry said goodbye to Daniel. By the time they got back at Island's Inc. it was already 3pm and Adrianna had a few meetings before leaving to get dressed for the party.

Cedric had once again arranged for Adrianna to be dressed by Maureen, he told her that he would pick her up at the studio at 7 in the evening.

When Adrianna entered Maureen's studio she was greeted like an old friend. She was surprised that the place was quite deserted when she arrived.

"Your husband wanted to make sure no one bothered you, so I closed the shop early today. Oh and congratulations! Veronica told me. I made sure to pick out something loose yet flattering for you." Maureen said with a wink.

At 7pm sharp Cedric arrived in their Audi, since he was attending the event as Adrianna's wife he chose a more laid back outfit, something a poor assistant would wear.

"I don't understand why you insist on dressing so simply Cedric! Your assistants, Ian and Camilla, dress up well. Even old Marco dresses better than you." Maureen complained as she saw Cedric waiting in the lobby.

"It's for me to stay invisible Maureen. How's my wife? Is she almost done?" Cedric asked.

"Now, now, don't rush. Thirty minutes, and don't worry she's already eating inside, I had one of my apprentices buy us some food, your's is over there on the counter." Maureen pointed out.

Cedric ate the food Maureen had prepared and after half an hour Adrianna came out in a loose flowing dress.

"I hope I don't look too pregnant." Adrianna said as she looked at herself in the mirror.

Cedric approached her and gave her a hug. "You don't." Cedric said planting a kiss on her head.

"Thanks Maureen. We'll get going now." Adrianna said as she waved goodbye to the designer.

By the time Cedric and Adrianna had arrived, most of the guests were already there, toasting to the success of the project. Aside from the company owners and the top executives, some of the smaller employees that were part of the project were invited as well.

"Adrianna, we heard the news!" Anton Cruz said as he approached with Lorisa hooked on his arm. "Congratulations! And this must be your husband?" Anton asked as he looked at Cedric from head to toe.

"Yes. This is my husband, Cedric Reyes. Cedric, this is our partner in the project, Anton Cruz." Adrianna said as she introduced Cedric.

"Mr. Cruz, a pleasure." Cedric said, offering his hand.

Anton ignored Cedric's outstretched hand.

"Lorisa mentioned that you went to university together." Anton said with a nod.

"Cousin in law!" Mark greeted when he spotted Adrianna and Cedric arrive.

Cedric glared at the man that approached who seemed way too enthusiastic in greeting a pregnant woman.

"Oh, hi Mark. Is Asia with you?" Adrianna asked Mark as she took a step back to avoid Mark being too close to her.

"No. My parents want her to rest while she's pregnant." Mark said with a grim look.

"Mr. Chu, will Mr. Laurence be joining us today?" Lorisa asked in a flirtatious way.

"Ummm, yes. He said he would drop by if his schedule allowed." Mark told Lorisa as he looked at her body.

"I think Mr. Laurence won't miss this opportunity." Anton said.

"This isn't an opportunity for him." Cedric chuckled.

"What do you know about the great Mr. Laurence!" Lorisa questioned.

"Just that you are lower than them." Cedric said as he pulled Adrianna leaving the group shocked at his words.

Adrianna and Cedric spent some time talking to the team from Island's Inc., the employees still didn't look at Cedric highly, he was also just an employee of another company just like them.

After a while Edward and Mark Chu excitedly walked to the entrance of the function room.

"I guess Ray just arrived." Cerdic whispered to Adrianna as he pointed towards the father and son duo.

When Ray did eventually arrive, everyone stretched their necks in order to see him. He was dressed fashionably in a pinstriped black and white suit. He didn't smile, but his eyes scanned looking for someone.

When he saw Ceric and Adrianna approaching he gave a subtle nod and Cedric simply grinned back.

"Mr. Laurence, thank you for giving us this opportunity." Anton Cruz said as he approached Ray.

Ray simply glared at him, usually people did not approach Ray first, Ray had to speak to them first before they spoke. Plus Ray had heard from Ayanna what Anton's wife had attempted to do to Adrianna.

"Mr. Laurence, I'm sorry, Mr. Anton spoke out of place." Edward Chu said as he tried to salvage the situation.

Ray merely grunted and greeted Adrianna who had just approached.

"Mrs. Reyes, a pleasure to meet you again." Ray said with a warmer tone.

"Congratulations on your engagement Ray." Adrianna greeted. Some of the guests were quite surprised with Adrianna's familiarity towards Raymund Laurence. Very few people were allowed to call Ray by his nickname. Not even the Chu's would dare call him that way.

"Are you silly Adrianna!" Lorisa scolded her former classmate in an attempt to embarrass her in public. "How could you address Mr. Laurence in such an informal manner? Are you friends? Don't bring shame on the Chus and on us because you're too comfortable in speaking with such powerful people."

"Yes, Mrs. Reyes and I are friends. Who are you?" Ray asked Lorisa with a look of disgust in his face.

Beside Adrianna, Cedric wanted to laugh at how Lorisa had just managed to embarrass herself when she was initially trying to embarrass his wife.

"Mr. Laurence, you know my husband. He greeted you just now." Lorisa explained.

Ray looked at her with disgust before a flash of recognition crossed his face. "Ah, I know who you are now. You're that whining social climber that Ayanna banned in that watch shop!"

Ray had spoken so loudly that everyone within earshot had clearly heard that Raymund Laurence had just called Lorisa a social climber and that Ayanna Reyes had had her banned from a shop.

The crowd began to whisper among themselves, wondering what Lorisa had done to offend Ayanna Reyes at such a level that she had been banned.

"Mr. Cruz, I suggest you get a hold of your wife!" Edward Chu warned Anton Cruz who in turn dragged his wife away.

"Mr. Laurence, we are sorry for this. When we were at Bamboo Room Miss Reyes didn't have any negative reactions to Mr. Cruz participating in this partnership. Had we known that Lorisa had offended Miss Reyes in the past we wouldn't have invited them over to join the project." Mark Chu said as he begged for forgiveness from the younger man.

However, at his words Raymund Laurence's face darkened and Mark Chu began to panic, he had no idea what he had said that had offended the man.

"Are you saying my future wife is so petty that she cannot separate personal affairs from work?" Ray asked.