Never Judge

Chapter 4 - 4

"Adrianna! I'm so glad you could make it!" Asia greeted while hugging her fiance's arm.

"Of course we are here, Asia!" Gracia replied before Adrianna could say anything.

"I'd like to introduce all of you to my fiancé, Mark Chu. His family owns a nationwide chain of drugstores!" Asia announced quite smugly.

"Such a successful young man." Adrianna's father complimented.

"Darling, Adrianna's husband, Cedric, has been stuck working as an assistant for the past five years! He went to the same university as us but it seems he can't find a decent job! Why don't you help him?" Asia said in a sweet tone to her fiancé.

"Anything for my Asia." Mark replied. To Cedric he said "Cedric, what is your field of interest? I'm sure I can talk to my father about giving you a job!" 

"I'm fine, thank you." Cedric said in a meek tone.

"You have too much pride, Cedric!" Asia scolded.

"I'm fine with my job now, Asia." Cedric said once again.

"How about with another company? I'm friends with 4 of the 5 princes! I can ask them to give you a job in their companies." Mark suggested.

Cedric grinned to himself, if only this kid knew who he really was.

"I like my job at Mor Co." Cedric replied.

"Suit yourself then." Mark simply shrugged.

"Adrianna! Scold your husband, Mark was already offering him so much and yet he has the guts to refuse!" Gracia whispered to her daughter.

"Mom, if Cedric is happy with his job then let him be." Adrianna said in defense of Cedric. Although Adrianna did not agree with Cedric refusing the offer, she was not about to contradict her husband in front of everyone else.

"I'll go say hi to grandpa. Cedric, why don't you come with me." Adrianna offered.

"Sure." The couple then stood and went over to the family patriarch.

Adrianna's grandfather was an old man in his eighties. He had inherited the Hernandez family business from his father before him and built it into the size it was today. 

After working for years he eventually handed the reins to his eldest son, Asia's father. 

"Grandpa! We're here!" Adrianna greeted her grandfather.

"Ah my sweet Adri! I hear you are doing well at work!" Adrianna was her grandfather's favorite, she was the smartest and prettiest among all his grandchildren. 

He had initially planned on matching her with the eldest son of the Reyes Clan, unfortunately she ended up getting married right out of university. Although the old man was disappointed at this, he still chose not to interfere with his granddaughter's choice.

"Grandpa, Cedric is here with me." Adrianna said sweetly. She truly loved Cedric, despite their misunderstandings.

"Nice of you to come." Grandpa Hernandez said in a flat tone. He was not too happy to see Cedric.

"Grandpa! You should scold Adrianna and Cedric! Mark was offering Cedric a much better job and he refused! What kind of a company is this Mor Co. anyway! It's so small it's not even among the top companies in the country!" Asia complained as she saw her grandfather speaking to the couple. Beside her, Mark simply grinned. 

"Asia, I'm sure Cedric has his reasons for refusing." Her grandfather explained. He himself however, did not agree on Cedric's refusal on a much better job.

Most people remained unaware that Mor Co. was a subsidiary of the much larger Reyes Group, the family had kept a low profile on some of their subsidiaries including Mor Co.

"Mark, what time are your relatives arriving? It would be rude for us to have already eaten by the time they arrive." Grandpa Hernandez asked.

"My father, mother, and siblings are on their way. Unfortunately the rest of the family can't make it."

Mark's father had not informed the rest of the family about the engagement. He was still hoping that his son would call it off after meeting the rest of the Hernandez family.

"Did you invite your friends? I heard from Asia that you are quite close to the 5 princes." Grandpa Hernandez asked.

"Ah yes. Ray said he would definitely come over. The others said they had prior engagements." Mark was glad that "the" Raymund Laurence said he would go. His father was supported by the Laurence family and sending over their heir was already a big deal for him.

"Ray? Raymund Laurence?" Adrianna asked.

"Yeah, my Mark and he are friends. Are you shocked to be in the same room as a bigshot, cousin?" Asia mocked Adrianna.

"No. It's not that." Adrianna was actually wondering if the Raymund Laurence that she was classmates with in university was the same Raymund Laurence that Mark was talking about.

All of the 5 princes were quite low profile. They never bragged when they were in university nor did they cause any trouble. It was only after graduating from university did each of them become as notorious as they were now.

"Let's go back to our seats." Cedric whispered to Adrianna.

"Grandpa, Cedric and I will return to mom and dad now. Don't forget to stay healthy alright!" Adrianna bid her grandfather goodbye with a smile.

"Grandfather, Asia and I will go and fetch my family. They just sent me a message that they are already at the lobby." Mark said.

"I heard that the Chu family was not too happy with this engagement!" Cedric heard a guest tell their companion.

"Is it true that Asia Hernandez is pregnant that's why this engagement needs to happen?" Another guest asked.

Cedric looked at Adrianna to get an idea of her reaction, but Adrianna kept a straight face the whole time.

It seemed that Asia Hernandez managed to scheme her way into marrying up into society.