The wedding reception was buzzing with excitement, champagne flutes clinking, andughter echoing through the hall when everything took a shocking turn. Julie, visibly pregnant and with a fiery look in her eyes, stormed towards Joseph, who was blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding behind him.


    Joseph, leading the way to the dance floor, didn''t catch on until Feiman, eyes wide with panic, shouted, "Joe, watch out!"


    Alerted by the warning, Joseph spun around just in time to see Julie''s hairpin plunging toward his chest.


    "Go to hell, you jerk!" Julie screamed as she thrust the pin with all her might.


    The guests gasped in horror, frozen in shock. Herman furrowed his brow, holding Anastasia close, while Flynn let out a breath he didn''t realize he''d been holding. Even Devin had to admit his daughter was acting recklessly.


    Joseph looked down at the hairpin resting against his chest and let out a mockingugh. "Seriously? It''s like you think we''re in some trashy soap opera. A hairpin to take me out? You really need to get your head checked." His words were arrogant and mocking, but true.


    Anastasia, who made jewelry for a living, knew that hairpins were designed to be harmless, with rounded, smoothed edges to prevent injury. Considering theyers of clothing Joseph wore, it would have been a miracle if the pin even scratched him.


    The tension that had been thick as fog dissipated with Joseph''s quip, and the urge tough or scoff was almost irresistible.


    Julie hadn''t even managed to scratch Joseph and now stood disarmed and ignored, except for Joseph''s consideration of her pregnant state. He was cold, but not brutal.


    Herman''s men quickly seized Julie.


    Anastasia murmured under her breath, "Looks like I''ve been watching too many cheesy dramas myself. I actually got scared for a moment."


    Even though she knew the hairpin was harmless, the intense situation had gotten to her.


    Soon, the wail of police sirens filled the air, and the authorities arrived on the scene.


    Detective Jason led the charge, striding in with a team of four, and Monica trailing behind.


    Anastasia and Herman walked to the entrance just in time to see Monica arrive, which took Anastasia by surprise.


    "Monica, what brings you here?" Anastasia called out, genuinely puzzled.


    Monica, who had no idea this was Joseph and Julie''s wedding, only realized where she was when she saw Anastasia.


    Pointing to Jason, who was heading inside, Monicained, "It''s all his fault, dragging me out of bed this morning to crack a case. He treats me like a police dog, threatening to lecture me on civic duty if I refuse. And then he has the nerve to only offer me cafeteria food!"


    Anastasia couldn''t help butugh, "Why do I smell puppy love in the air?"


    Monica, not catching on, retorted, "He didn''t treat me to dog food, if that''s what you''re implying."


    "Monica, let''s move," Jason called out, wrapping up Julie''s arrest with efficiency and a reminder to Monica.


    Monica, snapping to attention, called back, "Coming!"


    "As you can see, I''m getting chauffeured in style by police cruiser now. Cool, isn''t it?" Monica joked, ever the optimist.


    Anastasia smiled, "You''ve got a big spirit. Go on, then."


    Monica jogged off to catch up with Jason and hopped into the police car.


    After the police took Julie away, Anastasia turned to Herman with a question, "Do you and Jason have some kind of history?"


    She had sensed something off when Jason had nced at Herman before leaving, a look that was oddly charged.


    "Yeah," Herman replied as they got into the car. "We went to the same high school. He had a crush on a girl who ended up liking me."


    Anastasia couldn''t help but probe, "And then what happened with the girl?"


    "She got married, settled down, and now she''s got a kid in elementary school."


    "That''s it?" Anastasia felt a twinge of disappointment; the gossip wasn''t as juicy as she''d hoped.


    "Yep," Herman confirmed. "It''s been over a decade. Jason and I don''t really cross paths. Him being on this case was just coincidence. What do you say we go out for dinner tonight? My treat."


    "Are we celebrating?" Anastasia asked, hesitating before adding, "I was thinking, maybe we could visit our child''s grave, if that''s okay with you?"