As Julie stood at the altar, her heart skipped a beat when she spotted Herman in the crowd. She couldn''t help it; she had loved him for so long. How could she not feel a flicker of joy seeing him on this special day? But her joy quickly turned to dread when she saw her bridesmaid walk over to Herman and greet him with a formal, "Mr. Salstrom." Julie''s heart sank. The bridesmaid was working with Herman all along. Standing next to Herman was Flynn, and behind them, a group of Herman''s loyal followers.


    Feiman, misunderstanding the situation, thought Herman was there to attend the wedding. "Find a seat, the ceremony''s about to start," he said cheerfully.


    Herman ignored him and made a beeline for the bride and groom.


    Julie''s anxiety spiked as Herman stopped just a few feet away, his eyes boring into her.


    "Herman!" Julie''s voice wavered. Despite everything, she couldn''t help but fantasize about him being her groom instead of the man standing next to her.


    Anastasia, seeing Herman, stood up excitedly from her seat in the corner.


    Herman''s voice was cold and steady. "Ms. Brown, there''s something I need to rify with you. I hope you''ll be honest."


    Julie felt a chill run down her spine.


    Joseph, who had been pretending to sleep, was now wide awake, watching the scene unfold like an outsider.


    Julie forced a weak smile. "Go ahead, Herman."


    His tone was sharp as he continued. "On the day my grandmother was harmed, after Anastasia left the scene, what happened during those five minutes you were in the restroom? Did my grandmother tell you anything?" Julie''s face went pale. Down in the crowd, Devin sensed trouble.


    Devin quickly spoke up. "Mr. Salstrom, today is supposed to be a joyous day for your brother and Julie. This doesn''t seem like the right time for such questions. Whatever it is, it can wait until after the wedding." Feiman stayed silent, his eyes fixed on the group on the stage. He remembered something Herman had said before-that the real murderer of Granny Anita might be someone else... The guests were buzzing with curiosity about Herman''s timing.


    Herman pressed on. "Ms. Brown, please answer me. In those five minutes in the restroom, did my grandmother say anything to you? Did she leave anyst words?"


    Julie''s eyes widened in panic as she searched for an answer. "Granny said she liked me, hoped I''d be her granddaughter-inw, and wished for me to have a strong Salstrom heir..." Herman''s voice grew colder. "Ms. Brown, if I recall correctly, you told the police that when you entered, my grandmother was already dead. How could she have given you anyst words?" "I..." Julie realized toote that she had fallen into Herman''s trap.


    Quick to adapt, she said, "Did I say that? I can''t remember, I was too scared at the time."


    Herman was relentless. "So, when you entered, was my grandmother dead or alive?"


    "Alive, alive... but she passed shortly after, telling me Anastasia was to me, urging me to seek justice for her," Julie blurted out. "Anastasia is still free while Granny rests uneasy, haunting my dreams, begging for my help to clear her name."


    "And in those five minutes, that''s all she said?" Herman''s expression was unreadable. "Ms. Brown, if you wish to keep a secret, you must not do the deed yourself. My grandmother was murdered by you. After finding her still alive, you tried to pin it on Anastasia by delivering another blow, isn''t that right?"


    Herman raised his voice on thest sentence, using the force of his conviction to rattle Julie.


    The room erupted into murmurs.


    Granny Anita''s death had another side to the story?


    It was widely believed that Anastasia had killed Granny Anita. Herman had quelled the matter at great personal cost, and now, a new twist?


    Joseph, too, was hearing this theory for the first time and was just as shocked.


    Julie''s face went through a whirlwind of emotions. "No, I didn''t."


    Seeing the situation deteriorate, Devin strode onto the stage. "Herman, don''t make baseless usations. My daughter is incapable of murder. Granny Anita''s case has been closed, and it was your ex-wife who was responsible. The Salstroms can''t bully us like this. Julie is carrying the Salstrom bloodline, and you''ve turned her wedding into a fiasco. A young woman''s greatest dream is to wear a white dress and marry the man she loves, yet how have the Salstroms treated her? It''s outright cruelty."


    Devin yed his hand, aiming to win the crowd''s sympathy.