Never Judge

When Cedric and Adrianna arrived at the old Hernandez house it was chaos. Everyone was speaking at the same time, it seemed everyone except Fredrik and his family had already arrived. Even grandpa Hernandez was already in his place at the head of the table.

"If we do not address this, not only will it affect our stock prices but people will start boycotting our products as well!" One of Adrianna's uncles said. ​​

"Fredrik has managed this company for years! We should trust him." Adrianna's Aunt Cathy said in an attempt to defend her brother.

"How did Fredrik manage to offend someone as powerful as Miss Katerina Sebastian?" Another uncle asked.

"I'm sure Fredrik has an explanation." Grandpa Hernandez said calmly as he looked up to check the time. It wasn't even lunch and he was already trying to save his company from his own son.

Meanwhile Cedric and Adrianna quietly took their seats. Despite the problems at hand Adrianna was glad that she wasn��t the center of attention.

"Hey Adri, look at this." Cedric said passing his phone over to her. He intentionally looked for the posts that were defending Adrianna's reputation as well as the articles saying that John had made up rumors and encouraged the spread of rumors against Adrianna.

"Wow." Adrianna was surprised that people were rooting for her and defending her on social media.

"The Reyes Group hasn't released a statement yet, but at this rate I don't think they have to. I guess your name cleared itself." Cedric said with a smile. He knew the rumors had been bothering Adrianna for days now and he was willing to do anything to help her out.

"I'm sure grandpa will be furious about this though. This doesn't help the case." Adrianna said with a frown. "They might ask me to release a statement about this."

"I think it will be drowned out by other issues." Cedric shrugged.

A while later Fredrik and his family arrived. They were downcast and you could clearly see the distress in John's eyes, even Asia's eyes were red from crying. The only person in the family who didn't seem too bothered about what had happened was Henry Hernandez. He seemed rather calm and collected.

When they finally took their seats everyone quieted down. Grandpa Hernandez stood up and began to speak.

"As you are all probably aware by now we all woke up to the news that Atty. Katerina Sebastian has filed multiple sexual harassment cases and bribery cases against Fredrik and John. Most of you went straight here after hearing the news. As a matter of fact only one member of the Hernandez family actually went to the office today, and that was Adrianna." Everyone's eyes turned to Adrianna, who just nodded.

"Adrianna, granddaughter, why don't you tell us the scene outside Island's Inc." Grandpa Hernandez invited Adrianna to speak.

"When I arrived this morning, there were already many reporters waiting outside the lobby. Although they were not violent they were asking all the employees that were coming in if they knew anything about the issue. Luckily we saw the news before I could get out of the car, so I passed the basement entrance to get into work. By the time Cedric and I left the office some members of the media had managed to sneak into the basement, they were however caught before they could try to get in. Outside the office however, there were more than just the reporters, there were protesters as well." Adrianna recounted both what she and Cedric had seen as well as what the employees had told her.

"Fredrik and John, we need to know. Does Atty. Katerina Sebastian have any basis for her case?" One of Fredrik's cousins asked.

"How dare you doubt my dad!" Asia shouted.

"Asia, it's a simple question. Let your dad answer it." Matthew Hernandez, Fredrik's younger brother asked. Matthew was quite different in terms of build and disposition from his older brother. He was tall, quite muscular for his age and quite good looking, his attitude was closer to his younger brother Charles, who was calm in comparison to Fredrik who had a temper. Many people teased Fredrik in their younger years that he must have been adopted since he looked and acted nothing like his younger siblings.

"Shouldn't we be focusing on how to successfully defend against this case?" John asked.

"Is it true or not John. That's all the family needs to know." Another uncle asked.

"Dad. Don't you trust me?' Fredrik asked, looking for help from his father.

"Fredrik, answer their question." Grandpa Hernandez ordered his son.

"It's all true." Henry answered for his father and brother. "Dad and John paid off some people to get projects and clearances. There were also a couple of female employees from my department that were supposed to file harassment cases but backed out after dad and John threatened them."

"You disloyal dog!" Fredrik hit his son for telling the truth.

"It's not your son's fault! It's yours!" Grandpa Hernandez scolded Fredrik. "I want you and your family out of this meeting, except Henry."

"Uncle, before you send John out, there is another accusation circulating the internet." One of Fredrik's cousins said.

"What is it?" Grandpa Hernandez asked.

"According to a reliable source, John is behind the rumors of Adrianna's infidelity. Apparently he is even paying people to keep talking about Adrianna and the Reyes heir." He looked at Adrianna who wore a frown and was holding on Cedric's hand.

"John, Fredrik, not only did you do illegal things but you also had the gall to ruin your relative's name?" Grandpa Hernandez asked.

"Everyone in this room wanted for Adrianna to end up with the Reyes Heir!" John accused.

"We did. But we never spread rumors that Adrianna was cheating on Cedric with the Reyes heir. Don't you know how that could impact our relationship with the Reyes Group?" Aunt Janine said. She was one of the people encouraging the rumors that the Reyes Heir liked Adrianna, but she never went as far as saying there was a relationship between them already.

"Out! The four of you!" Grandpa Hernandez commanded.

Fredrik, Celine, John, and Asia had no choice but to leave the room.

"Uncle, I think you need to find a replacement for Fredrik. John should be removed from his position as well." One of Grandpa Hernandez's nephews suggested.

"Matthew." Grandpa Hernandez called his second son.

"Yes dad?" Matthew asked.

"You've been working in Island's Inc. for almost as long as Fredrik. You will take his place." When grandpa Hernandez said this no one argued with him. Matthew seemed to be a logical choice.

"I won't let you down dad. How about John's role?" Matthew asked the old man.

"Study the job and see who would best fit the role. I would prefer a member of the family take on his job. So prioritize family first." Grandpa Hernandez said.

"Cathy, could you help me schedule a press conference for later this afternoon?" Matthew asked his sister. Cathy nodded and stepped out to make arrangements.

"That's it, for now. You can all leave." Grandpa Hernadez dismissed everyone.

When Cedric and Adrianna got to the car Adrianna received a call from Margaret asking her and Cedric to come back to the dining hall.