Never Judge

"In today's news the world market has crashed once more. The biggest loser in the capital is the biggest fish in the sea, the Reyes Group." The news anchor announced with a frown on his face.

Cedric couldn't help but laugh at the man's expression.

"He probably has some stocks invested in the Reyes Group." Adrianna commented as she and her husband watched the news while having a romantic dinner in their dining room.

Tonight the children were all with their grandfather, Emilio Reyes. He suggested that the couple enjoy some time alone.

"I thought we were supposed to be on a date." Cedric teased as he reached over to switch off the TV.

It had been his wife that insisted on monitoring the news. She knew that over the next few days some key changes would happen.

"It is a date." Adrianna replied confidently. "Don't you just love it when your plan slowly falls through."

Cedric smiled at his wife. He couldn't help but marvel at how far she had gotten.

She was once referred to as just a pretty face in her family, and here she was now, a successful business woman running her own empire, a mother with three beautiful children.

The twists and turns life threw at them was truly interesting.

If Adrianna had not kept fighting her family for their relationship, their story would be different.

"Thank you." Cedric said as he gazed lovingly at his wife.

"Mmmmm?" Adrianna asked as she gave her husband a confused look.

"Thank you for never giving up on what we have." Cedric told her. "You could have chosen not to marry me when your grandfather threatened to disinherit you. You could have divorced me when a better man came along. You could have left me when you realized being Mrs. Reyes would bring you more pain than any other surname."

Adrianna chuckled at her husband as she got up and walked over to him. She waved at him to move his seat back and placed herself lightly on his lap.

She lowered her head and kissed him passionately, allowing him to feel all the love she had for him.

"What was that for?" Cedric grinned as their lips parted.

"For being so romantic tonight." Adrianna winked at him as she got up and sat back down in her spot.

"Despite the crash in the market, several companies are slowly growing in value as well. .  ." The news anchor said in the background.

"The companies belonging to the Rajas?" Adrianna asked as she looked at the list of companies that were performing well.

"Them and some small companies Ian decided should do well with a dart board." Cedric chuckled as he recalled Ian placing companies of people he was still planning on going after.

"They offended him too?" Adrianna asked as she looked at the list, recognizing some of them as companies that had only grown big in the past twenty years or less.

"Yup. I'm not sure when or how, but Ian has a score to settle with them and I let him use this opportunity." Cedric explained as he cut his steak and ate a bite. "Is something wrong? Do you think there could be an issue?"

Cedric always valued the opinion of those around him. He knew that he was not perfect and that there may be things he could miss out on.

"I'm just worried that the Rajas will realize the connection to Ian, but knowing Ian he would have it covered." Adrianna said as she continued to eat her meal.

"The higher they rise, the faster and worse the fall." Cedric grinned as they continued to enjoy their meal.

"Mr. Reyes! Mrs. Reyes!" A member of the staff suddenly burst into the dining room, panting.

"What's wrong?" Cedric immediately asked.

There was very little that could panic the staff at Cedric's Mountain View Mansion. They were prepared for almost every emergency including an assasination attempt.

To see one of his staff rushing and panting, Cedric knew it was something they were not trained for and those matters were harder to deal with.

"It's Miss Ayana, Mrs. Laurence." The staff member said as she took a deep breath. "She's in labor."

"What!? She isn't due for another week!" Cedric said in surprise as Adrianna quickly jumped into action, calling some maids into the dining room, having them prepare what Ayana would need.

"Where is Ray?" Adrianna asked as she sent the maids to do as she had asked.

"He has a meeting, it's one of those where he can't be disturbed, but I'll have Ian pull him out." Cedric told his wife as he took out his phone and dialed Ian's number.

"I'll go accompany your sister and give Nicole and Miguel a call as well." Adrianna told her husband as she gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he waited for Ian to pick up is call.

"Fuck." Cedric cursed as Ian dropped his call.

He quickly typed a message telling Ian it was urgent that he picked up the call. He didn't think it was right to tell Ray about Ayana's labor through a text message.

Cedric waved a maid over and asked her to have the car prepared and to wake his driver, John.

The maid scurried away as Cedric gave Ian another call, this time, he did pick up.

"Ced?" Ian asked as he answered the call.

"Get my brother-in-law on the line now!" Cedric shouted, sending Ian into a panic as Cedric could hear the door pushing open as Ian ran into the room Ray was in.

"It's the boss." Ian told Ray as he played his part well.

"Close this." Ray ordered Ian in a stern tone as Cedric hear more commotion at the other end of the line as a door closed.

"Is something wrong?" Ray asked Cedric as he tried to keep his composure.

Those in the underworld couldn't see any form of weakness for their king. He always had to be calm and strong, but he struggled this time when Ian told him Cedric was on the phone.

"My sister has gone into labor." Cedric informed Ray. "We'll be taking her to Saints, finish what you need to do there."

"Ced, they are questioning your ability to back the underworld." Ray quickly told Cedric.

"Tell them everything is going to plan. They just need to have faith." Cedric told Ray as he bid goodbye to Ray and dropped the call.

He expected people to question if the Reyes Group would make it out of their current predicament, he just didn't expect them to ask so soon.