Never Judge

By the time Cedric had finished his breakfast the other boys had already arrived at Mountain View. They were nagging him to hurry up since they wanted to get the church hunting over with.

"What's the rush? Do you even know which area you want to have the wedding?" Cedric asked.

"Somewhere far from my parents, right Miguel?" Ram asked.

"Yes, and somewhere secluded. A place they can't find easily or the press can't see easily." Miguel told the other boys.

"I have an idea. It's not too far from here. It's a monastery with a small church. If we ask nicely they will agree to having a wedding. It also has an amazing view." Cedric said as he asked a driver to bring around some cars.

"That should be good. Won't we bring the girls?" Miguel asked as he followed Cedric out.

"I guarantee, they'll like this place." Cedric said as he got into one of the cars.

By the time the convoy got to a compound at the top of a mountain Ram was busily on the phone. The other boys waited for him to end the call so they could see the visible distress in Ram's face.

"What's wrong?" Miguel asked when Ram finally approached them.

"It's out. Someone leaked information on the internet that Veronica and Anna are the same person. Now news of your engagement has hit new heights. My people couldn't chase the volume of discussions on social media to kill it." Ram told Miguel.

"How did they find out?" Alexi asked.

"We never really hid it. So when people asked we admitted that Veronica and Anna were the same person." Ram said with a shrug. 

"Let's hurry up here. Veronica won't be happy when we get back." Miguel said as they went further into the compound.

They were greeted by two monks who looked like they had just recently joined the order due to their age. They smiled warmly at the group of young men led by Cedric.

"Brothers." Cedric greeted the monks.

"Mr. Reyes, it's been a while." the monks greeted, shaking his hand.

"I've been donating to this monastery for quite a while." Cedric explained to his friends. "Brothers, may I show them the chapel?" Cedric asked.

The brothers then led the men on a tour of the convent.

Back at Mountain View, on Cedric's instructions, Mia informed the girls about the latest news. When Veronica saw that people were talking about her she walked over to the bar and took a big gulp of wine.

"What are they saying?" Veronica asked.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Adrianna said as she scrolled through the comments.

Veronica nodded hesitantly.

"Well they aren't that bad. So many are supporting your relationship with Miguel, oh here's one. No wonder they've been seen together often, although they are out as a group most of the time. I support. Hmmm. That one sounds good." Adrianna read out.

"Let me see." Nicole said, taking the tablet away from Adrianna.

"Read the bad ones." Veronica said in a sad one.

"Okay. Are you sure?" Nicole asked.

Veronica nodded and Nicole scrolled through.

"No wonder she's always in the 30 under 30 list, her family owns the network. I thought they were fair." After Nicole read it she looked up at Veronica.

"Keep going." Veronica instructed.

"I bet she just got her clients through her parent's connections. She even dared to lie. What a fake." Nicole said in a fading voice.

"What else?" Veronica asked.

"Are you sure I should keep going?" Nicole was worried that the comments were too much for Veronica.

"I'd rather hear the comments now with you guys rather than later when I'm alone." Veronica said, insisting that Nicole keep reading the comments.

"Girl, don't you dare steal my Miracle Doctor away from us. She isn't worthy of Miguel Chan. Now that's foul! There isn't anyone I'd rather have than Veronica to be my sister in law." Nicole couldn��t help but comment on the last comment she read.

"Veronica, stop being a wuss." Katerina suddenly said. "I know it hurts, but you're stronger than this."

"I'm not you Katerina, I'm a coward, I'm weak! I didn't brave the stupid rumors or expectations, I hid, remember? I ran away and changed my name! Everyone keeps saying I did it to separate myself, but no, truth is I fucking ran away because my best friend used me and I couldn't take the pressures of being an Abad." Veronica shouted in a sudden outburst.

"I don't think you're weak." Miguel said as he stood by the door of the guest house.

"You! You! You get away. This is all your fault. If you didn't agree I wouldn't be in this arranged marriage." Veronica said as she turned to leave.

Miguel took large strides and quickly grabbed Veronica by the arm pulling her back to him. The force of Miguel's pull made Veronica bump into his chest and into his arms.

"You'll hurt your hands.�� Veronica said, pushing him away.

"I don't care about my hands. All I care about is you." Miguel told Veronica.

Veronica was at a loss for words, Miguel had always joked about these things so she had never taken him seriously.

"Miguel stop it, you don't have to say things like that everyone here knows the truth." Veronica scolded Miguel.

"You're the only one that's clueless Veronica." Miguel said with a serious expression.

"Miguel!" Veronica shouted as she tried to escape his hold.

"Veronica Abad, I have loved you since we were children, everyone here knows it. Will you please give me a chance?" Miguel asked.

"What are you saying Miguel? Are you fucking proposing?" Veronica said in a loud voice, in part she was still scolding Miguel.

"I don't care if you boss me around for the rest of our lives, as long as I get to spend the rest of my life with you." Miguel said as he slowly got down on one knee.

"This is crazy, you don't need to do this, you don't need to lie. Guys, tell Miguel to stop." Veronica said to her friends in a panic.

"Veronica, my older brother isn't lying." Nicole said.

"Veronica, I asked Ray to get me this ring a long time ago. As long as you say yes, this ring and my heart will forever be yours." Miguel said in a loving tone.