Mr. Walker had always lived a clean, honest life, so discovering such ruthlessness in his own family left him stunned and heartbroken. He feltpletely helpless. This was his wife—the woman he''d spent his whole life trying to make up to-so what could he possibly do now? He just wanted to protect her. It was only when he noticed Herman''s suspicion turning toward Autumn that he finally stepped in.


    Autumn couldn''t bring herself to tell the truth. Staring at the floor, she mumbled, “I arranged for someone to take Julie''s body. Ben and I went to school together, and he wasn''t in great health. His sudden death shocked me, too. As for the kidnapping of Mrs. Salstrom-what does that have to do with me?"


    Ben''s sudden passing had caught Autumn off guard, but she understood the meaning behind it. Ben had done it to protect her.


    Mr. Walker was confused. "Why did you take Julie''s body? What''s your connection to her? And you were ssmates with Ben?"


    At that moment, Mr. Walker realized how little he actually knew about his wife''s past. When they married, Autumn never mentioned her family-just said she had no one left. For more than twenty years, they''d lived quietly in the countryside, and he''d never seen her in touch with anyone from her old life. He simply assumed she was an orphan with no family to speak of.


    Maybe that''s why he always felt an extra tenderness for her. He handed over every paycheck, and Autumn had the final say at home. When he took the job in Riverdale, of course he brought her along.


    Even now, with everything falling apart, he hadn''t once raised his voice to her. All he wanted was to understand what was going on, so he could protect her.


    Suddenly, Autumn''s eyes filled with tears-something he''d rarely seen in all their years together. She looked like she was about to cry.


    Seeing her like that rattled Mr. Walker. He was at a loss. "Hey, don''t cry, sweetheart. Whatever''s going on, we''re a team. We''ll figure it out together. If you want kids, we can adopt. My cousin''s got more kids than he knows what to do with-he''s even suggested letting us take one in. I think it could be good for us. We could raise the child as our own, and when we''re old, they''ll be there for us."


    Autumn grabbed a tissue, dabbing at her tears. "I don''t want any of their kids," she said, voice thick. "Don''t you know what your cousin and his wife are thinking? Your cousin''s wife looks down on us for not having children, and now that you''re a big shot in Riverdale, they''re after our money. They''re hoping if we take one of their kids, everything we have will end up with them."


    Mr. Walker tried to reassure her with a smile. "It''s not like that. We''re all family. My cousin just feels for us because we don''t have children. He thought maybe his youngest grandson could have a better life with us."


    "If I''m going to adopt, I''d rather go to an orphanage and bring home a child who actually needs it-not one of theirs. Autumn''s voice took on an edge. You''re always busy at work and with social calls. You don''t hear the gossip at home. Everyone''s saying we''re going to adopt your cousin''s kid, and you know where that''sing from-your cousin''s wife is spreading it around, just to make things awkward for us."


    Autumn wanted nothing to do with that scheming family. She wasn''t about to let them take advantage of her.


    "Okay, okay, let''s drop it for now," Mr. Walker said gently. "If you''re notfortable, then we won''t do it. But tell me, Autumn-why did you take Julie''s body? Did you know her?"


    Autumn knew she''d have to give him an answer, or this wouldn''t blow over.


    "She was my ssmate''s daughter," Autumn finally managed, her voice trembling as she wiped her eyes. She couldn''t bring herself to tell the truth-she was too scared to admit Julie was her own daughter.


    "I went to school here in Riverdale years ago," she went on, her voice thick with emotion. "Ben was my ssmate, and Julie was the daughter of another friend from back then."


    Mr. Walker frowned. "You mean Devin?"


    She nodded. "Yes. When I came back to Riverdale, I found out the Brown family had gone bankrupt,


    and my old ssmate''s daughte


    ended up in prison. When she died, nobody came to im her body. I felt sorry for her, so I took care of it. You''d just started your new job here, and I didn''t want to distract you or cause any trouble, so I kept it to myself."


    She''d already prepared this story in her mind and continued, "As for


    Ben''s sudden death, I honestly didn''t know. He told me he wasn''t feeling well, and I told him to see a doctor, but never expected him to go so suddenly. Yes, I imed my ssmate''s daughter''s body, but I had nothing to do with what happened to Mrs. Salstrom. I would never do something like kidnapping."


    "It really wasn''t you?" Mr. Walker pressed.


    "No, it wasn''t me," Autumn promised. "We''ve been married for over twenty years.


    Don''t you trust me?"