Herman had truly indulged himself that evening, leaving both him and Anastasia in a state of blissful contentment. Theyy sprawled on the couch, Anastasia nestledfortably in his arms, theirughter mingling with the stillness of the room. "Those old sayings really hit the nail on the head-nothing like a full belly to stir up desire," Anastasia teased, her voice yful as she tracedzy circles on his chest.


    His breath was still heavy with their recent exertions, warming the nape of her neck. "Makes me want to shirk my duties forever. But I''ve got to start grooming my sessor. Pattie''s only six now; I figure by the time she''s twenty, she can take over. Gives me fourteen years."


    Hearing him talk so candidly about the future, Anastasia shifted in his embrace to look up at his chiseled features. "Pattie... she..."


    He cut her off, his voice soft but firm, "She''s a Fletcher, your daughter. If no one else will im her, then she''s mine."


    Anastasia wanted to argue, to say more, but the words lodged in her throat. There was no telling what the next decade or more would bring. For all she knew, Herman might change his mind, and there was no point in disturbing the peace of the moment over what-ifs. She turned away again, pressing her back against his warmth, and closed her eyes. "I''m off to sleep."


    Post-exercise drowsiness came quickly to Anastasia, and she always slept deeply afterward.


    "Alright," Herman whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her neck.


    The next day dawned on the much-talked-about union between the Fletcher and Linwood families. Herman had left a wedding invitation for Anastasia before heading to the office.


    After dropping Pattie at school, Anastasia, with invitation in hand, made her way to the wedding venue.


    Herman had given her the invite to bear witness to Julie''s downfall.


    The ceremony was set for noon, and Anastasia arrived at half-past ten, her face half-hidden behind a mask. She found a quiet corner to sit in, patient, unflustered, waiting.


    The wedding was a modest affair, just about fifteen tables, all filled with influential figures in the business world.


    But their presence wasn''t wholly for the sake of celebrating nuptials; many were there to see whether the Fletcher-Linwood alliance would actuallye to pass.


    The atmosphere was tense, the wedding décor the only thing marking the asion as a celebration of love. Feiman and Devin, the Linwood patriarch, greeted guests. The absence of the Fletchers, except for Feiman and some distant rtives, was palpable. Katelyn and the Salstrom brothers were nowhere to be seen, and the groom himself was missing.


    Herman was the true head of the Fletchers. His absence signaled that Joseph''s status hadn''t been acknowledged, and thus, neither was the marriage it was merely a sham, a wedding arranged by Feiman for his illegitimate child.


    Feiman, while entertaining guests, sent people to fetch Joseph, fuming that the groom had yet to appear as the ceremony loomed.


    Devin, anxious, pressed Feiman, "Old man, what''s the deal with the groom? Where is he? The wedding''s about to start."


    Feiman lied smoothly, "He''s on the way, stuck in traffic. He''ll be here any minute."


    "And Herman? Flynn? Anastasia?" Devin prodded. "Haven''t seen them either."


    Feiman chuckled, "Anastasia had to dash off to Ennd for something. She couldn''t make it back in time, insisted I apologize to you on her behalf."


    Devin wasn''t buying it. Katelyn''s absence was one thing, but without Herman, this wedding would be the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons, and Julie would be the subject of gossip.


    As Feiman and Devin were showered with congrattions, Feiman slipped away under the guise of fetching the bride, only to frantically dial Joseph''s number. Calls went unanswered, and Herman and Flynn''s phones were off, as if by some silent agreement. In his panic, Feiman received word from his security detail, "Mr. Salstrom, we''ve located young Joseph."


    "Where?"


    The guard hesitated, then muttered, "At Neon Dreams, still hasn''t woken up."


    Feiman cursed under his breath, "Get him here. If you have to drag him, then drag him. We''ve got less than half an hour before the ceremony starts."


    "Yes, Mr. Salstrom," the guard replied, hurrying off.


    Meanwhile, Julie donned her wedding gown in a secluded dressing room, waiting for the auspicious hour. Though every woman dreams of her wedding dress, she was far from happy.


    The puffy gown, chosen to hide her pregnancy, was far from what she had envisioned. Even in its voluminous folds, it barely concealed her growing belly. The thought of guests whispering about her condition as she walked down the aisle filled her with dread. Catching the eye of her bridesmaid, who was clearly there to ensure she didn''t bolt, Julie said, "I need some air. It''s stuffy in here."


    "I''lle with you, Ms. Brown," the bridesmaid offered, her presence a clear sign that she was there on Devin''s orders.


    "No need," Julie snapped, ring. "The ceremony''s about to start. I''m not going to back out. You don''t need to follow me. Don''t think I don''t know my dad sent you to watch me."


    The bridesmaid stood awkwardly in ce while Julie, lifting her dress, strutted out with an air of defiance.


    No sooner had she reached the hallway than a man disguised as a waiter approached, slipping her a note before disappearing. Julie opened the note, and her face turned ghostly pale. Her legs buckled under her as the words on the paper sank in...