Mr. Walker didn''t even dare light up a cigarette. He sat back down, face serious, and stayed alone on the sofa for what felt like forever.


    If Anastasia''s kidnapping really had something to do with his wife, he honestly didn''t know what he''d do.


    He mulled it over for a long time before finally picking up the phone. "Mr. Taylor, any news on Anastasia''s kidnapping?"


    Mr. Taylor, startled awake by thete-night call, snapped to attention. "Mr. Walker, there''s been no new progress. All four kidnappers are dead, so we can''t get anything out of them. Anastasia was on medication at the time, so her memory''s fuzzy and she hasn''t been able to give us any good leads. It''s still a cold case."


    Mr. Taylor chose his words carefully. He couldn''t figure out why Mr. Walker was calling him at this hour.


    The real reason the case had gone cold was because Autumn hade to him privately.


    Mr. Taylor always thought it was at Mr. Walker''s direction, so he''d sent Jason off to Einsberg, and since the Salstrom family had dropped their charges, no one pressed for an investigation. The case just faded away, like so many unsolved ones each year.


    Mr. Walker said, "Alright, thanks. I got it."


    Mr. Taylor: ".


    He hung up,pletely baffled.


    Was that apliment? Had he done well?


    It seemed his guess was right-it really had been Mr. Walker''s call all along. Feeling a little proud, Mr. Taylor figured he''d finally earned some recognition. Now that the case was officially at a dead end, Mr. Walker felt a bit of relief. Without solid proof, he didn''t want his worst suspicions toe true.


    While Mr. Walker was still fretting about Autumn, he had no idea his wife was in someone else''s s.


    Autumn wasn''t home at all. She''d told the housekeeper she was going to bed, then slipped quietly out the back door.


    She met Devin at a hotel. She couldn''t resist his sweet talk, and with the regrets in her heart starting to fade, she watched Devin flit around for her and the baby she was carrying—washing fruit, bringing her water, even giving her a foot massage. For a moment, she felt happy.


    But it was a fragile kind of happiness-nothing she could really hold on to.


    Still, she wanted more.<fnc8c6> Get full chapters from FιndＮovel</fnc8c6>


    And at the same time, Autumn couldn''t help but look down on Devin a little. The man she''d given her youth to was now reduced to groveling, always eager to please Mr. Walker, treating her with the same nervous deference. It made her feel let down.


    Her emotions were all over the ce. She knew she shouldn''t tangle herself up with Devin again, but she couldn''t help being drawn back in. Any woman, at any age, can make a mess of things when she gets swept up in love.


    All Autumn wanted was to get through her pregnancy safely. She had this feeling —it would be a girl, Juliee back to her as her own daughter.


    Riverdale.


    Southridge Estates.


    When Anastasia found out about Herman''s n, she was worried. "Mr. Walker''s sharp. I bet he''ll figure


    out it was you And what about ne


    Elysian


    got


    chnologies? We''ve two shipments waiting to go but we stifthaven''t got the permits. If that falls through, we''ll lose a fortune.”  s


    "He''ll figure it out, but he won''t do anything just yet," Herman said with a slight smile. “Right now, his biggest concern is finding


    Whose baby Autumn is


    Anastasia, I promised I''d get justice for you, and I mean it. I''m willing to take that gamble."  s


    Herman was betting on Mr. Walker''s conscience-wondering if he could still be fair if his own wife hadmitted a crime.


    No sooner had he finished speaking than his phone rang. It was Dailey. "Boss, Autumn and Devin are at The Grand za Hotel."


    This time, it wasn''t even surveince-Dailey just happened to bump into them.


    Anastasia, close enough to overhear, was shocked. "Wow, they really couldn''t wait, huh? Mr. Walker just left town and they''re already shacked up in a hotel. Autumn isn''t


    exactly young anymore, and she''s


    pregnant too. "That''s bold Aren''t they


    worried Mr Walker might turn


    around and catch them


    red-handed?"


    s


    If Autumn were twenty years younger, she probably would''ve run off with Devin on


    the spot.


    Herman raised an eyebrow. "Well, here''s our chance. I''m curious to see what Mr. Walker does next."


    Dailey asked, "Boss, should I tip Mr. Walker off?"


    Herman said, "Family business shouldn''t be aired in public. Mr. Walker wouldn''t want news of his wife''s affair getting out. My guess is, unless something unexpected happens, he''ll be back by tomorrow."


    Dailey didn''t get it, and neither did Anastasia. "How can you be so sure? Unless...?"


    Unless Mr. Walker had his own people watching Autumn.


    Herman and Anastasia exchanged a nce and both realized what the other was thinking.


    Herman nodded. "Mr. Walker didn''t get to where he is by being oblivious."