In less than fifteen minutes, Autumn had already been startled twice.


    The first time, Devin appeared out of nowhere, and she was so rattled her hand shook, sending her mug crashing to the floor.


    "Autumn, what happened? Did you hurt yourself?" Mr. Walker had just gone to the next table to toast a few friends, but spun around the moment he heard the noise.


    "I''m fine, just got clumsy," Autumn lied, her heart pounding like a drum.


    Devin, sitting in the corner, watched her with a sly grin. He didn''t care if anyone discovered their secret. In fact, he seemed to get a kick out of unting it right under Mr. Walker''s nose. The risk just made it more exciting for him.


    Katelyn clicked her tongue. "I''ll have someone bring you another mug."


    ?


    Autumn wished she could disappear. If she stayed any longer, something even worse might happen.


    "Honey, I''m feeling a bit—” She tried to find an excuse to leave, but before she could finish, Anastasia strolled over, Daria perched on her hip, both of them smiling. “Hi, Mom! Hello, Mrs. Walker, Mr. Walker."


    Katelyn frowned. "Why''d you bring the little one here?"


    Anastasia had clearly orchestrated Daria''s arrival-she knew Daria was Autumn''s Achilles'' heel.


    With a sweet, practiced smile, Anastasia said, "It''s such a lively day. Kids should be out and about meeting people, so they don''t get too shy. Daria, say hi."


    Daria, perfectly behaved, piped up, "Hello, Grandma Parker! Hello, Grandma Johnson! Hello, Grandpa Young!"


    She didn''t miss anyone.


    Autumn''s whole face softened when she saw Daria. She couldn''t help herself: "Daria, you''re such a good girl."


    But Mr. Walker hadn''t forgotten her unfinished sentence. "Autumn, you started to say you felt a bit...?"


    "I just meant, I''m really happy today," Autumn covered quickly, grinning as she reached out. "Daria,e here, let Grandma hold you."


    But Daria, snuggled against Anastasia, turned her face away. "Auntie Ana, I want to y with Emmie and Nancy."


    "You can y with them tonight," Anastasia replied cheerfully. "If youe home with me this evening, you''ll have all night to y with your cousins."


    The idea of Anastasia taking Daria home made Autumn''s heart twist with worry, but she couldn''t exactly protest.


    Anastasia turned to Katelyn, "Mom, I''ll take Daria to get some food. You all should eat too."


    The banquet had started, and guests


    were already tucking in. Pattie and Monica Flynn were at the same table,ughing over mashed potatoes and roast beef. Emme and Nancy, being little, had already been sent home-too many guests and not enough hands, and Anastasia and her husband Herman were busy working the room.


    Feiman was making the rounds, clinking sses and toasting everyone.


    Joseph knew almost everyone there, so he was off chatting with guests instead of hovering over Daria. He trusted Anastasia to look after her.


    After a polite smile and nod to Mr. and Mrs. Walker, Anastasia carried Daria off to Pattie''s table.


    Autumn watched them go, longing to scoop Daria up in her arms, but she didn''t get the chance.


    "Autumn, you should eat something," Mr. Walker said, noticing her preupied look.


    "Yeah. Okay," Autumn replied, her nerves jangling. Her eyes kept darting between Daria and Devin.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn spotted Herman returning and hurried over, lowering her voice. “Herman, what''s Devin doing here? Did you invite him?"


    Nobody got into this banquet without an invitation.


    Herman kept a straight face. "Dad invited him."


    Which was technically true-Feiman had sent the invite, but only because Herman told him to. Herman had wanted Devin here, hoping to throw Autumn off- bnce and keep her from trying anything sneaky.


    With Devin around, Autumn had bigger worries like whether their secret was about to blow up-than any other schemes.


    Katelyn muttered, "What was your father thinking, bringing Devin? Has he forgotten all the trouble Julie caused?"


    Herman brushed her off. "Mom, it''s a celebration. He''s just another guest. It''s not like one more seat at the table is going to hurt. Jonah wants a drink-I''ll catch youter."


    Seeing it was pointless to argue, Katelyn let him go. Herman joined Jonah and Scott, Collin trailing behind.


    The banquet hall was


    buzzingughter, sses clinking, and lively chatter everywhere. Devin, though, was the odd one out. Ever since Brown Corporation went under, he''d only been invited out of courtesy, and he''d been ced at the least important table way out on the edge.


    Here, seating mattered. The closer you were to the Salstrom family or had higher social standing, the


    closer you sat to the main tablet


    The outer tables were for those with less influence. Devin''s seat on the fringe said it all.


    And for Autumn, the evening was only getting more nerve-wracking.