The moment Joseph opened his mouth, the room fell silent, followed by a wave of hushed whispers rippling through the guests.


    Over a hundred attendees stood there, murmuring among themselves. The groom had shown upte and drunk; it was obvious he wasn''t thrilled about this wedding.


    Feiman''s chest tightened with rage. Who announces they''re a bastard in the middle of their own wedding? It was a tant p in Feiman''s face.


    For years, Joseph had never pleased Feiman, always causing trouble.


    Devin, equally grim, sipped his wine and said, "Old Man Farrow, you''ve raised quite the son."


    Feiman''s face burned with shame.


    The wedding hade this far; there was no choice but to see it through.


    Feiman signaled to some men nearby, "Get up there and prop Joseph up; we have to finish this wedding."


    Devin, knowing they had to grin and bear it, sent word for Julie to make her entrance.


    As the wedding march yed, a wobbly Joseph was propped up on stage by two bodyguards. Julie, her gown held by her bridesmaid, made her way down the aisle, stopping about eight meters from the main stage. The scene was bizarre, to say the least. Julie looked desperate, her eyes pleading with Devin for help. But Devin ignored her gaze.


    With a six-month belly, Julie''s appearance set the socialites and high societydies whispering among themselves.


    "No wonder we haven''t seen Julie at any gatherings for so long."


    "Getting married with such a bump, I''d die of embarrassment."


    "The groom''s sloshed. I heard Joseph''s a regr at the clubs, partying every night."


    "Shotgun wedding. It''s clear Joseph''s not into it."


    "Julie used to be so snooty, iming she''d be thedy of the Salstrom house. Ends up marrying a bastard."


    "Well, that bastard''s still a Farrow, isn''t he? If you can''t have the brother, settle for the next best thing, I guess."


    Julie could barely make out the whispers, her grip tightening on her wedding dress, wishing the earth would swallow her up. Joseph''s disdain left her unable to lift her head, her pride trampled.


    Devin approached Julie, and the bridesmaid stepped back, ready to intercept if Julie tried to flee.


    Devin offered his hand to Julie, following the wedding protocol of the father escorting the bride.


    Julie took Devin''s hand and whispered, "Dad, someone slipped me a note. The thing about Grannie Anita, it''s out."


    Devin''s face went pale. "Why didn''t you say so sooner?"


    "I tried calling you, but you didn''t answer," Julie replied, equally frantic.


    The MC was already announcing, "Now, the groom may step forward to meet his bride..."


    Joseph, supported by the bodyguards, chose that moment to doze off.


    Feiman, watching the scene unfold with suppressed fury, signaled to the bodyguards to drag Joseph to the bride.


    What followed was a spectacle: two bodyguards hauling a snoring Joseph towards Julie, the groom''s snores echoing loudly, while Julie and Devin stood awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.


    It was, without a doubt, the most unconventional wedding in history.


    Anastasia sat in a corner, eyeing the farce and wondering, where was Herman?


    Julie was a mix of anger, fear, and humiliation. Devin patted her hand gently, murmuring, "Hold steady. The note might just be a nasty prank. No matter what, we''ll get through the wedding. Remember, we''ll pay back the Salstroms tenfold for today''s humiliation." For the Browns, this wasn''t a wedding. It was public shaming.


    Joseph was dragged before Julie, and the MC, maintaining a brave front, continued.


    A drunk Joseph wasn''t about to kneel and propose. That part was skipped altogether. With the bodyguards still supporting him, and Julie holding her bouquet, they moved together, sans the groom''s guiding hand or friends'' blessings. Julie, her thoughts echoing Devin''s words, transformed her fear and anger into a cold resolve.


    She would make the Salstroms pay for today''s disgrace.


    The MC ventured, "Do you, groom, take this beautiful bride by your side to be yourwfully wedded wife, to love, honor, and cherish her for all days?"


    The microphone was passed to Joseph, whose snores boomed through the speakers, creating an awkward atmosphere.


    "It seems our groom is too overjoyed to speak. So let me ask the bride-do you take..."


    The MC was put in a tough spot, and Feiman was sweating bullets.


    Before the MC could finish, the doors to the banquet hall burst open. Herman, dressed to the nines, led a group into the room, his presencemanding attention. Herman''s arrival caused a stir among the guests.