Never Judge

When the newly married couple entered, everyone stood up to clap for them. The interesting thing was that instead of seeing a happy couple they saw a distracted bride and groom. Both seemed to be occupied with something other than their wedding, and by the looks of it, they might have just fought before entering.

"You really can't have a relationship based purely on gains." Ayanna said, loud enough for her brother to hear. ​​

"Ayanna." Ray scolded.

Ayanna just smiled sweetly and hugged Ray's arm pretending to be a loving girlfriend.

When the couple reached the stage they sat in their seats, but their eyes seemed to be scanning the crowd rather than looking at each other.

Just as the program began Edward Chu and Vivian Chu approached Cedric's table.

"Mr. Laurence, Miss Reyes, we have prepared a seat of honor for you at the front. Why don't you sit with us?" Edward Chu invited Ray and Ayanna.

"Are we taking these seats from anyone?" Ray asked.

"No sir. It's just, you will have a much better view at the front." Edward Chu said.

"I don't like staying in front." Ayanna said in a cold and domineering tone.

"You guys sound so similar." Adrianna whispered to Cedric. Of course Ayanna and Cedric had both picked up this public persona from their father who was very different outside their home.

Edward Chu could do nothing but walk back and forth from the front of the event hall to the side where Ray was, he was after all their guest of honor.

On the stage, despite being mad at her cousin for wearing the designer of her dreams to her wedding, Asia was quite content. Raymund Laurence and Ayanna Reyes were at her wedding, they were miles above them in social standing and none of her relatives had ever had any guests to their weddings that came even close to those two.

"Mr. Chu, do you have anything to say to your new wife?" The host asked Mark Chu.

With the host's question everyone focused their attention to the stage as if suddenly remembering that they were there for the wedding of these two people.

Mark was still looking out at the audience and suddenly said "You are the most stunning woman here tonight Adrianna."

Everyone gasped. When Mark realized what he said he tried to correct himself but it was too late, everyone had heard what he said and it was even caught on camera.

Ray and Ayanna both burst out in laughter, Cedric was furious, and Adrianna blushed in embarrassment.

"Do I have to deal with him?" Cedric asked Ray.

Ray, who was laughing so hard, shook his head and called the host over asking for the mic. All eyes were suddenly on him.

"I'm sure Mark was just admiring my friend's wife as have most men here tonight. But I'm sorry Mark, Adrianna is painfully loyal to Cedric over here." Ray said with a laugh. Cedric glared at him while the rest of the audience just laughed with him.

Asia stood up and slapped her husband before stomping away in anger.

Edward Chu went up on stage in an attempt to save the night.

"Please, let's eat and drink. We'll get back to the program after." Edward said.

Despite his attempts to salvage the wedding some people had caught the confession on their phones and began posting it online.

Soon everyone found out that Mark Chu was in love with his cousin in law. Cedric shook his head and quickly called Ram.

"I saw the video! Ray sent it to me." Ram said laughing.

"Get rid of the name." Cedric said as he dropped the call.

Ray on the other hand had left to discuss with the Chus the embarrassment they had just caused Adrianna.

Within ten minutes Ray had managed to get the Chus to apologize to Adrianna and Ram had managed to miraculously have any mention of Adrianna's name removed from the videos and the comments.

"Adrianna, dad called for you." Margaret said as she approached Cedric's and Adrianna's table.

"I'll go with you." Cedric said as he stood up to accompany her.

"Dad said family only." Margaret hissed.

"He's my husband." Adrianna said, defending Cedric.

Margaret didn't want to argue anymore since there were important guests on the same table.

In a smaller function room the Hernandez family gathered, with Asia sitting at the center sobbing.

"Uncle, you called for me?" Adrianna asked as she approached.

"We need to resolve this. Adrianna, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but can you apologize to everyone?" Adrianna's Uncle Matthew asked.

"You bitch! You couldn't handle me marrying better than you!" Asia screamed as she lunged to hit Adrianna.

Luckily Cedric was there and he quickly caught Asia and pushed her away.

"What right do you have to push me! You worthless man!" Asia shouted.

"Asia, calm down." Asia's mom, Celine Hernandez, said as she tried to get her daughter to sit back down. ’Adrianna will go up on the stage and apologize for this."

Everyone looked at her, waiting for her to nod and agree with what they wanted.

"If you hadn't tried to attack me I would have done it." Adrianna said, holding on to Cedric's hand. She was taking strength from the fact that her husband stood next to her and would support her no matter what. "It's not my fault that your husband finds me pretty. Should I make myself ugly for him to be honest or to control himself? It's not my job to make him love you."

Cedric grinned at his wife's words. With Adrianna standing up to her family it allowed Cedric more room to act in response to all the bad things they had done to his wife and to him.

"Adrianna, please, think of the family." Her Uncle Matthew said.

Cedric didn't want Adrianna to make it sound like she had seduced a man that had just gotten married that day. It wasn't her fault, all Adrianna did that day was to stay by Cedric's side.

’I said no. If you insist any further, my husband and I will leave." Adrianna said, putting her foot down.

"There is no need for that." Uncle Matthew said with a sigh.

"I can't believe you're taking her side in this uncle! It's my wedding day. I managed to unite the Hernandez family with the Chus, who are much richer and much more powerful than us! Because of me both Raymund Laurence and Ayanna Reyes have noticed the Hernandez family!" Asia said proudly.

Cedric wanted to slap her. He resisted since he was sure his wife wouldn't approve and on the account that Asia was pregnant.

"Asia, did you forget that it was your cousin that managed to bring Elisia Corp. into the fold. And don't get me started on the foul way you managed to get pregnant with Mark Chu's child. We are lucky he is marrying you rather than asking you to abort the child." Uncle Matthew scolded Asia.

Out of the blue Edward Chu knocked on the door to the smaller function room.

’Ah, Matthew and Adrianna, just the people I was looking for. Could I discuss something with you?" Edward asked.

"My husband comes with me." Adrianna insisted.

Everyone was puzzled with Adrianna's sudden clinginess to her husband. It seemed that she wanted him with her at every moment.

Edward Chu paid no mind and agreed.

They went to the hallway and Edward made sure that it was empty.

"What happened earlier was Mark's fault. He will take the stage and apologize in public. As a symbol of our apology we will also offer one of our projects with Mr. Laurence to Islands Inc. under Miss Adrianna's department." Edward said with downcast eyes. To Cedric he looked like a child that had just been scolded by his parents for not playing nice.

Of course Edward Chu had been scolded by Ray for embarrassing Adrianna. He didn't question why Ray defended Adrianna, he knew that for some reason this couple was quite close to the Laurence family. He had seen some of their interaction while they were at Kashmere. They were even present when Ray had Asia thrown off the island.