Never Judge

"Three years ago, I was on a medical mission in one of the most difficult places to reach in the country. That's where I met a group of people who had been sent there because of Jason." Miguel said in a grim tone.

"What do you mean?" Ram asked.

"After Jason stole their work, he promised to pay them, instead he shipped them off to that very same village I went to. When I heard their story I took them with me, faked their death certificates, and moved them. Their health has been in such bad condition that they've been living in a Saints Hospital for the past five years." Miguel explained.

"I never thought he could be that cruel." Ram was clearly surprised with the lengths the man would take. "But why wasn't that part of the file you gave me? I'm sure that is much worse than any stealing and faking he has done."

"The people I saved asked me not to. They asked that I keep the fact that they are alive hidden from people, they don't want Jason to go after their families. I told them I could protect them but they refused. They all said they were content living together, they considered each other to be their new family now." Miguel told Ram.

A few minutes after dropping the call with Ram, Veronica's assistant called Miguel and informed him that the auction organizers wanted Veronica to replace Jason as the award recipient and guest of honor at the event.

Miguel told her to tell the organizers that Veronica would be willing as long as Jason was left uninformed of the change. To entice the organizer to agree to what he wanted, he also promised that if they did that the Reyes Heir would attend together with Ayanna Reyes.

Miguel didn't have to wait long for the organizer's response. Of course they would agree to what he wanted, just getting one of the Reyeses to attend would pull in droves of socialites to come as well. On top of that the spending limit did not exist for the Reyes family.

After getting the organizers to agree Miguel faced his second problem, convincing Cedric.

When Cedric and Adrianna came down for breakfast the next day, their senses were attacked by the delicious smell of breakfast. They were surprised to see everyone at the dining table, including Ray. 

"Miguel cooked." Ray greeted happily as he saw the couple.

"Why are you here so early?" Cedric asked his friend.

"I'm taking Ayanna shopping then to Maureen's to prepare for the auction tonight." Ray explained. "Did you get an invite, Adri?" Ray asked looking over Cedric.

"I did, but I don't think Cedric would be fine with me going." Adri said as a maid placed food in front of her.

Everyone got distracted when Miguel hummed while walking out of the kitchen carrying Cedric's favorite breakfast food. He walked over and placed the plate in front of Cedric.

"This is very suspicious Miguel." Cedric said. "You should be cooking for your wife, not for me." Cedric teased.

"Veronica had to go to work early." Miguel said with a shrug as he sat on the chair across Cedric.

"Miguel you are an amazing chef!" Priscilla praised.

"Thanks Auntie, I can open up a restaurant if my medical career fails." Miguel joked.

"What do you want?" Cedric glared at Miguel.

"A favor." Miguel grinned. 

Cedric sighed, of course he would say yes to his friends, that didn't mean he wasn't going to make them work for it.

"What is it this time?" Cedric asked.

"Go to the auction as the Reyes Heir." Miguel said.

"And what about my very pregnant wife?" Cedric asked as he pointed at Adrianna.

"She can go with Ayanna, and you can go with them. Bring uncle and auntie too and make it a family affair." Miguel proudly said.

"What are you willing to trade for this?" Cedric asked with a grin.

"Do it for the sake of our friendship, please." Miguel said.

"You cook, once a week, for a month." Cedric offered.

"Deal!" The fact that Miguel didn't even haggle made Cedric laugh.

"What's so important about this auction anyway?" Cedric asked as he ate a spoonful of the food Miguel had cooked. 

"Oh, we'll be embarrassing Jason Evangelista. Haven't you seen the news yet?" Miguel asked.

Cedric took out his phone and searched for the latest news. Everything was about how Jason Evangelista was a fake. Abad News Network was the first to release the evidence coming from an anonymous source. 

As soon as Ram's company released the article it blew up everywhere. People were checking his old work and realizing that they did seem similar to the work of other artists who all retired due to various reasons.

"You got this information and released it?" Cedric asked Miguel. 

Miguel nodded and grinned. "Even the whole auction thing is for V." Miguel proceeded to tell everyone about his plan.

"Idiot, you should have said that from the start. I wouldn't even have haggled if I knew it was for Veronica." Cedric told Miguel.

"We'll go too." Emilio Reyes told Miguel. "This might be fun to watch." 

"Of course Gracia and Charles will be coming with us too!" Priscilla Reyes said excitedly.

"Mom, people might ask questions." Ayanna warned.

"Don't worry. I could just say we took them under our wing since you and Adri are such good friends." Priscilla told her daughter.

"Adri, I'm sorry I can't go with you as your husband." Cedric told his wife apologetically. "But here. Use this to buy whatever you want." Cedric said as he fished out his black card from his wallet.

"Don't be silly. Of course it's alright." Adrianna said as she planted a kiss on her husband's cheek.

"So it's settled. We're all going." Miguel said with a grin.

Cedric just nodded back. He knew that this evening was going to be quite exciting to watch and Jason was soon going to find out that he messed with the wrong person.