"Mr. Walker wants to make Joseph his godson?"


    Now, that was big news.


    Herman''s brows drew together. "Where''d you hear that?"


    "Dad told me," Flynn said. "He mentioned that Mr. Walker invited him to dinner today, and the main topic was making Joseph his godson. Think about it-Joseph doesn''t even acknowledge the Salstrom family, refuses to have his name in the family records, but now Mr. Walker wants to im him? With Mr. Walker''s clout in Riverdale these days, Joseph could walk around like he owns the ce."


    With Mr. Walker in his corner, Joseph would have people lining up to curry favor. Business would be a breeze-folks would be throwing money-making deals at him left and right.


    The whole thing was so sudden that Herman couldn''t help but feel suspicious.


    "Since Mr. Walker came to Riverdale, he''s been all about politics. I''ve never even heard about him and Joseph having any connection," Herman said, skeptical.


    "Same! It''s weird," Flynn agreed, thinking it over. "Herman, you don''t think Joseph''s been cozying up to Mr. Walker behind our backs, do you? The Walkers never had a son. If they''re nning to make Joseph their godson, that''s basically as good as being family. No wonder Joseph doesn''t care about our dad-our dad doesn''t have any real power. Mr. Walker, though, he''s got the kind of influence everyone wants."


    And that kind of backing? That was the real deal.


    Feiman, their dad, was basically living the retired life-eating, drinking, ying around, enjoying himself.


    Back in the day, Feiman had done his part for Joseph-sent him abroad for school, funded his startup. He''d fulfilled his fatherly duties, no doubt about it.


    Herman went quiet, lost in thought. Something about this whole Mr. Walker- godson thing just didn''t add up.


    "Did Joseph say yes?" he finally asked.


    "No clue. Last I heard, they were at the Tianxiang restaurant, probably talking it through. If this goes through, Joseph''s stock will skyrocket," Flynn said, sounding worried. “Herman, Joseph''s always liked going up against you. If he gets Mr. Walker as a backer, he''ll get even bolder. What if he starts making trouble for Elysian Technologies? What then?"


    "Let''s wait and see if Joseph epts," Herman replied. Honestly, he wasn''t so worried about Joseph sabotaging thepany-he was more curious about why Mr. Walker was so interested in Joseph in the first ce.


    Tianxiang Restaurant.


    In a private, tastefully decorated room, Joseph and Feiman sat across from Mr. Walker and his wife, Autumn. They''d both been invited out for this dinner.


    Autumn liked Daria and wanted to bring her closer to their family, but that meant going through Joseph.


    The simplest way? Make Joseph their godson.


    That would make Daria their god-granddaughter by default.


    Even though Autumn still held some resentment toward Joseph over Julie''s death, the chance to get close to Daria was enough for her to put those feelings aside.


    The atmosphere in the room was a bit awkward. Mr. Walker''s sudden proposal caught Josephpletely off guard.


    He''d never even interacted with Mr. Walker before today.


    Joseph and Feiman exchanged a look. Feiman smiled and said, "M


    Walker, it''s Joseph''s good fortiet


    that you think so highly of him. But really, it''s up to him."


    Truth was, Feiman couldn''t be happier at the idea-having a heavyweight like Mr.


    Walker as a godfather would set Joseph up for life.


    Mr. Walker smiled. "Of course. Joseph should have the final say."


    He looked straight at Joseph. "My wife and I never had children, and now that we''re older, we want family around us. I admire you, Joseph. You''ve got guts and character. After discussing it, we''d love to have you join our family. What do you think?"


    Joseph, for his part, didn''t buy it for a second. There was no way the Walkers just


    happened to "admire" him out of nowhere.


    He forced a lopsided smile. "I


    appreciate the ttery, Mr. Walker, but this is pretty sudden. I''ve never been one for this kind of


    wonder-do you like me for yel.ne


    arrangement. Makes me


    charm? Or is it my status as the family outcast? Or maybe you just want to bask in the glow of my son''s achievements?"