Mr. Walker had always trusted his wife, and he just couldn''t see her being


    involved in Mrs. Salstrom''s kidnapping. When she exined herself, he believed her without hesitation.


    He let out a sigh of relief. "I''m just d it wasn''t you."


    "I only asked Ben to help me out, just to im Julie''s body. She looked so pitiful— I couldn''t stand the thought of her leaving this world with no one by her side," Autumn said quietly, her voice thick with sadness. "Honey, I talked to some old ssmates. Everyone said Julie was a good kid. I just can''t buy that she''d kill anyone. Anastasia already confessed, didn''t she? Maybe the Salstroms made Julie take the me to save Anastasia. What do you think?"


    "That was a long time ago. I wasn''t even in Riverdale back then, so I don''t really know what happened," Mr. Walker replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Plus, that kind of criminal case wasn''t under my jurisdiction anyway."


    "But can''t you help clear her name?" Autumn pressed, her words tumbling out. "The Browns went bankrupt because of the Salstroms. I just know they fooled everyone and let Julie take the fall. She was so young. My friend Julie''s mom- she never got over losing her. She''s been sick, living out in the country ever since."


    You could hear the bitterness in Autumn''s voice every time she mentioned the Salstroms.


    They''d ruined her friend''s daughter, and Autumn was determined to make them pay one day.


    Mr. Walker patted her hand softly. "I''ll have someone check the files and get to the bottom of it. No good person should be wronged, and no bad person should walk free."


    "Thank you, love."


    Autumn rested her head on his shoulder, her tone turning gentle. "We have to get justice for Julie. That poor girl... Daria lost her mom so young. Every time I see her, my heart just aches."


    "No wonder you care so much about her. She really is a sweet kid-and cute as a button, too," Mr. Walker sighed. "I''m sorry I never gave you a family. If we''d kept that baby all those years back, they''d be grown now, maybe with a family of their own. We could''ve been grandparents by now."


    He sounded so wistful. Now in his fifties with no children, he sometimes wondered who''d visit his grave in the future.


    Seeing him so down, Autumn''s guilt grew heavier, dragging her mind back to twenty years ago.


    That night, it was pouring rain. If she hadn''t seen that news about Devin and Mrs. Brown at the Brown Corporation''s anniversary party, she wouldn''t have gotten so upset, so distracted. She wouldn''t have slipped on that muddy path through the fields, wouldn''t have lost the baby.


    She''d never told Mr. Walker the real reason. He still med himself, thinking that if only he''de home sooner, none of it would''ve happened.


    Autumn fell silent, her eyes clouded with sadness. Mr. Walker, worried he''d hurt her, rushed to exin. "Autumn, honey, I didn''t mean anything by it—"


    "I want to take care of Daria," Autumn cut in, her voice firm.


    Mr. Walker looked stunned. "You want us to take Daria in? But she has a guardian, and we''re not even rted. How could we possibly get custody? Joseph would never agree."


    "Joseph is hardly father-of-the-year material," Autumn said, worry lining. her face. "He''s always out on the


    town, chasing women. That''s n


    way for Daria to grow up. Why don''t we talk to him-offer him something in return? He''s a single dad with a kid; it''s not easy for him to settle down again. He might just say yes."


    What Autumn really meant was for Mr. Walker to lean on his influence a bit.


    Always the straight arrow, Mr. Walker''s expression turned stern. "Absolutely not. If


    you want a child, we''ll go to the orphanage and adopt."


    Autumn''s smile faded. She pulled her hand back. "But I want Daria. You''ve spent your whole life working for other people, barely home. I''ve been alone in this big, cold house for years. I just want someone to keep mepany, so I''m not so lonely. What''s so wrong with that? Joseph might even agree."


    Mr. Walker found himself at a loss for words. He knew he owed her, but all he could do was sigh heavily.


    Autumn shot him a look, sensing his guilt, and pressed on. "If you''d kept your promise back then ande home sooner, maybe I wouldn''t have lost somuch blood. Maybe our baby would''ve made it. We could''ve had a child—maybe grandkids by now. You love it when Daria calls you Grandpa, don''t you?"


    Mr. Walker didn''t answer, but the regret hung between them, heavy and silent.