Never Judge

Ayanna finally returned with Ray in tow. Ray decided to accompany Ayanna all the way to Southern Bank and wait for her in the car, something Ayanna was not happy about.

"Stop treating me like a child! I'm not a child!" Ayanna shouted as she entered the room.

​​

"Maybe Ayanna's shouting will wake Cedric up." Eric teased.

"How was your trip?" Emilio asked his daughter.

"Well I found out who owns Southern Bank, but I'm not sure how it helps." Ayanna said as she took a seat and grabbed a plate of whatever food was left.

"And?" Nicole asked.

"It's someone named Carlos De Dios. He's some self made businessman. He's about dad's age." Ayanna explained.

"Why would he want to hurt your brother?" Priscilla asked.

"Dad, did you ever encounter him?" Ayanna asked, looking at her father.

"Not that I remember." Emilio said as he tried to recall everyone he could have possibly offended.

"Isn't he the husband of Marivic De Dios?" Priscilla said, recalling the woman who had brought the Hernandez's over to Nationalia.

"I think so, yes." Emilio said.

"Is she mad because Cedric had her banned from the Nationalia?" Ayanna asked.

"It's just the Nationalia. I don't think it's that important." Eric shrugged.

"It's not just the Nationalia to her. Marivic is the ultimate social climber, lunch with us every wednesday is the highlight of her week." Priscilla explained.

"I will not accept that my son almost lost his life because some woman does not want to miss your lunch." Emilio said.

"That's the best lead we have, uncle." Ray said.

"What if I push through with this partnership and get to know more about Carlos De Dios?" Ayanna suggested.

"No. I forbid you to!" Ray scolded.

"You can't forbid me Ray! You are not my dad or my older brother and both of them would never stop me from doing something." Ayanna answered back.

"I swear Ayanna, you're loud enough to drive someone out of a comma." Cedric groaned.

"Ced! You're awake!" Adrianna said hugging her husband as tears flowed from her eyes.

"Ouch. Does this mean I'm forgiven?" Cedric teased.

"Of course, of course. I was so worried Ced." Adrianna said as she continued to cry.

"Honey, stop crying, I'm fine, see?" Cedric said, raising his arms.

"Well you weren't fine when you came in. I saved you!" Miguel proudly said.

"You told us it was nothing serious!" Ayanna shouted as she threw a pillow at Miguel.

"I had to say that. If I told you the truth you would have cried all day!" Miguel said as he caught the pillow. For someone often called a nerd Miguel had extremely good reflexes and was very fit.

"I'll call the others." Nicole said, rushing out of the hospital room.

"How bad was it, Doc?" Cedric said teasing Miguel. It was an inside joke for them to call Miguel Doc since they would often pretend he was a doctor when they were children.

"When you got here your injuries were so bad. You were saved by Ian pulling you, but even then I had to take out some glass and metal fragments that managed to lodge themselves in critical areas. After operating on you I had to open you up again, you had vascular trauma from the accident." Miguel explained.

"How long was I out?" Cedric asked.

"Not long. Almost a whole day. I'm an awesome doctor like that." Miguel boasted.

"I'm a bit hungry." Cedric said.

"Oh I had my chef cook food." Eric said, but when he turned around he saw that the plates were already empty.

"Ayanna did you finish everything?" Eric asked.

"I was hungry!" Ayanna shouted as she blushed in embarrassment.

"You're such a pig." Ray commented.

"Don't listen to Ray. I'll just have more food cooked." Eric said.

"See Eric cares more about me than you do Ray!" Ayanna said, sticking out her tongue like a child.

"Hey I'm not getting between the two of you." Eric said, pushing Ayanna towards Ray.

"I hate to ruin the fun, but Cedric needs his rest. So if you aren't married to him, out." Miguel said pointing at the door.

"Is that how you speak to your elders Miguel?" Priscilla asked, teasing the young doctor.

"Sorry auntie. But I'm serious. Cedric needs his rest, and having everyone talking so loudly won't help." Miguel said.

"He slept for a whole day!" Ayanna complained.

"And he still needs to rest. So out!" Miguel said, pulling Ayanna out.

"I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow brother!" Ayanna said as she was dragged out. Miguel knew that she would be the hardest to convince to leave.

"We'll be back tomorrow morning." Emilio Reyes told Cedric before leaving with his wife.

"Ray." Cedric called out before his friend could leave.

"What's up?" Ray asked.

"Thank you for making sure Ayanna was safe." Cedric told his friend.

"How did you know?" Ray asked, he had assumed that Cedric didn't hear any of the earlier conversations.

"There was a point where I couldn't move or open my eyes but I could hear everything going on." Cedric explained.

"I just want her to be safe." Ray said.

"I know, now go." Cedric said, telling Ray to leave.

"Finally, silence." Cedric sighed as he smiled at Adrianna who was sitting next to him.

"How are you feeling?" Adrianna asked shyly.

"Well it still hurts. Are we okay now?" Cedric asked.

"Of course we are!" Adrianna said, hugging her husband.

"When I was out all I could think about was how I had to wake up and get back to you." Cedric told his wife.

"After what happened to you I felt like it was shallow to get mad at you for everything." Adrianna explained.

Suddenly Adrianna's phone was ringing.

"It's mom." Adrianna said showing Cedric.

"Go on, they must be looking for you." Cedric told his wife.

"Mom?" Adrianna asked.

Cedric couldn't hear what his mother in law was asking over the phone.

"Mom. I stayed with a friend. I think I might be staying over for a while. Yes, don't worry I'll be at the family meeting. Cedric? Well I'll ask him if he'll come along. Bye." Adrianna quickly answered her mom's questions before dropping the call.

"When do you plan on telling them?" Cedric asked Adrianna.

"I'm afraid of what they'll think and do when they find out." Adrianna told her husband.

"I have faith that you will tell them when the time is right. Now come here beside me and sleep with me." Cedric said, holding her hand.

"But your injuries." Adrianna pointed out.

"I won't be able to sleep well without you next to me. The past week has been torture without you." Cedric said as he grabbed her by the waist.

"Fine." Adrianna giggled as she got into bed with her husband.