Never Judge

"The Lims, the Sebastians, and the Laurences." Cedric said as he repeated the family names Calathea had mentioned. "What enemy do they have in common?" Cedric asked.

"Cedric, another thing I find odd is, Jen knows who you are." Katerina told Cedric. "If she knew the real identity of the Reyes Heir, why didn't she tell her boyfriend?"

"I think she is planning on using it as leverage, in case things went bad between them." Calathea suggested. "Plus I don't think he has anything against the Reyes family, he just wanted to use the Reyeses to get to the others."

"I have so many questions." Alexi said as he massaged his temples. 

"I honestly don't know if I can answer all of your questions about Aiden." Calathea said with a frown. "We were together but I barely knew anything about him. At first I thought it was just because he was a private person, but now, I have come to realize that he was simply hiding things from me." 

"There is only one person that I can think of that would hate those three families." Cedric said slowly. "But it's impossible. The man shouldn't even know about their history."

"Who?" Katerina asked.

"I can't be sure." Cedric said, shaking his head. "I need to speak with uncle Jose, uncle Benedicto, and Ian's father to be sure." Cedric said with a sigh.

"I'll ask our parents to come over." Katerina said with a nod. "Nicole, you should ask Ian to have his father come over as well,"

"Wait, have them go to the Reyes Mansion instead." Miguel told Katerina. 

"Why?" Katerina asked.

"Do as Miguel says Katerina. We'll explain later." Alexi told his sister. 

"I'll give Ray a call too." Cedric said with a nod.

He quickly dialed Ray's number.

"Yo." Ray said as he picked up the phone. Cedric could hear the chaotic noise in the background.

"Where are you?" Cedric asked, he was sure Ray was taking advantage of his wife being away to attend to other business. 

"At home." Ray said. "Wait, I'll just pause the game."

Cedric couldn't help but laugh. The greatly feared king of the underworld was busy playing video games while his wife was away shopping.

"This better be important Cedric." Ray grumbled over the phone. "I rarely get me time."

"It is." Cedric said in a more serious tone. "Can you get your parents to go to the Reyes mansion?" Cedirc asked.

"Sure, but why?" Ray asked.

"It has something to do with the CEO of Regis Inc. and Rene Ty." Cedric said quite cryptically.

"Who is Rene Ty?" Ray was more confused now.

"I'll explain later. For now, go to the Reyes Mansion and bring your parents along." Cedric instructed. "Oh and Ray, don't let my sister find out about this. I don't want to worry them without being Certain about some things."

"Got it." Ray said as he dropped the call. 

By the time Cedric ended the call with Ray, Katerina was also done calling their parents. 

"Mom and Dad said they will go to the Reyes Mansion immediately." Katerina told Cedric who simply nodded in response.

"I also spoke to Ian." Nicole said. "He's on his way with Tristan to pick his parents up. Will you tell us what this is about Cedric?" Nicole asked.

"Later, at the Reyes Mansion." Cedric said he didn't want to have to repeat himself. The story was quite complicated and telling it over and over would just be a waste of time. "Now tell me why you are here as well."

"You have gravely misunderstood your father." Nicole told Cedric with a serious look in her eyes.

"I don't understand what you are saying." Cedric told Nicole with a shrug. He and his father rarely disagreed. The elder Reyes was very open minded and always had the intention of innovating, that's why he and Cedric got along with regards to the direction he wanted the group to take.

"Cedric, my sister is talking about your suspicions that uncle Emilio is cheating on auntie Priscilla." Miguel explained. He too had been kept in the dark with regards to his auntie's condition. Only Nicole had been aware, even when he and Ian took over in her place Nicole had left strict instruction on keeping it from her brother and boyfriend.

"Nicole, you don't need to defend my dad." Cedric said with a sigh. "I'm disappointed, but I know it happens. People fall out of love, all I'm asking is that he treats my mom properly and that he remains honest with her."

"Cedric your dad isn't cheating." Nicole shouted.

"What? How are you sure?" Cedric asked in surprise.

"Cedric, the woman whom your dad visits in that house isn't some mistress." Nicole explained. 

"I'm sure you both would know all about it." Cedric said sarcastically.

"What?" Miguel asked, he didn't know what was wrong with Cedric, but his friend suddenly turned hostile towards them. 

"A Saints Hospital van was spotted outside the house, now tell me you weren't involved?" Cedric asked as he turned to Nicole and Miguel. "We all know that the real person managing Saints Hospital is you Nicole."

"Of course I know about the van. I sent it there yesterday." Nicole told Cedric.

"So did the mistress give birth?" Cedric asked coldly. "And you Miguel, you've known about my suspicions for months and yet you remained silent!" Cedric accused. 

"My brother and Ian knew nothing about that, everyone was under strict instructions not to tell them because of you. Because your parents were worried about you and Ayanna." Nicole suddenly said in a burst of frustration. 

"What are you talking about Nicole?" Cedric asked as his expression turned soft. Nicole's tone suddenly made him worry. "What are my parents hiding?"

"Uncle Emilio and Auntie Priscilla didn't want you to know, but five years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer." Nicole said, dropping a bomb into the room. 

Cedric's face turned placid, no one could tell what he was thinking or how he felt, his face was just expressionless. 

"Cedric, we operated on her back then. We took out the tumor and she somewhat got better." Nicole explained calmly this time. "But there was always a risk that it would metastasis."

"Is that what happened?" Cedric asked.

Nicole nodded. 

"The year you came back she had me do a check up on her." Nicole looked like she was about to burst into tears. "It was lymphoma."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Cedric asked.

"Because auntie Priscilla asked me not to." Nicole quickly replied. "Do you have any idea how hard it was keeping this a secret from everyone. At first she didn't want to get treated, eventually things got harder for her so she and uncle Emilio came to me one day asking me to set up a recovery facility for her."

"The house." Cedric mumbled.

"Yes the house. Her trips to Clarin Industries were all cover ups for her treatments." Nicole explained.

"And dad was going to her." Cedric said, completing the statement.

Nicole nodded once again, confirming his hunch.

"I need to talk to dad." Cedric suddenly dashed out of the room with everyone trailing behind him.