Chapter 1131

Mr. Walker sat on the couch, the anger burning in him giving way, just for a moment, to a kind of dazed helplessness.

Was everything he'd worked for his whole life's work-really about to end up in someone else's hands?

And the son he'd waited for all these years? Turns out, he wasn't even his.

Ross stood quietly to the side, not daring to speak, just waiting for orders.

After a stretch of heavy silence, a cold, dangerous glint appeared in Mr. Walker's eyes. "Where's Devin?"

"Hiding out in Hartford," Ross answered. "Herman tried tracking him down, but now Devin's so jumpy, he won't even come near Riverdale."

Mr. Walker's fists clenched tight. He glanced at Ross. "He's not young anymore. Out there drifting around, who knows when something might happen to him."

Ross caught the meaning instantly. "You're right, godfather."

Devin needed to disappear. It was the only way Mr. Walker could swallow his rage.

If Devin ever came back and the scandal got out, Mr. Walker would be a laughingstock.

There was no way he'd let the Brown family's blood inherit everything he'd built.

He waved Ross off.

Ross left, bowing respectfully.

Mr. Walker sat alone for what felt like forever. Autumn's betrayal had left him trapped no way out.

If he denied the child, everyone would know his wife had given birth to another man's baby.

He had no choice but to accept it.

Bite down, swallow the bitterness, and move on.

His phone rang. Autumn. Even at her age, she insisted on breastfeeding, suffering through the pain just to do it right.

Her C-section scar ached, her chest hurt from trying to nurse, and now she was running a fever.

She couldn't take it anymore and called him. "Mr. Walker, I feel terrible. Where are you?"

Hearing how much she was hurting, a mix of emotions hit him. After a long pause, he said, "I'll be at the hospital soon."

Before she could say anything else, he ended the call.

At the hospital, Autumn could sense the change. Mr. Walker was colder now, distant.

A woman's intuition is sharp-she could feel it right away.

She looked over at her baby boy, fast asleep after eating, her heart tight with guilt and anxiety.

The boy looked nothing like Mr. Walker.

Sooner or later, people would start whispering.

She asked the nurse to leave and sat there, nerves jangling, staring at her son and thinking about Devin.

He was the real father, after all. How could she not think of him?

Almost without realizing it, she reached for her phone to call Devin.

But before she could, her phone rang—an unfamiliar number from Hartford.

The sudden ring startled her. She answered with a shaky voice, “Hello? Who is this?"

Deep down, she already knew.

Devin's excited voice came through the phone. She wasn't surprised.

"It's me, Devin. Autumn, you had a son, didn't you? You gave me a son. That's amazing."

He was practically giddy. After losing his daughter, now he had a son—and he didn't even have to raise him.

With a son binding Autumn to him, everything Mr. Walker owned would eventually go to his child.

Autumn glanced around nervously, terrified someone might overhear—even with the door closed, she felt exposed.

"How did you find out? Where are you, Devin? Where have you been all these months?"

"I'm in Hartford," Devin said. "Autumn, wait for me. I'm coming to Riverdale tomorrow. I want to see my son."

He didn't ask a thing about Autumn's health—just about the baby.

"Devin, you can't come here! Do you want to get me killed?" Autumn nearly shouted, panic rising.

care"'ll head out at ĕ!!!

"Relax, Mr Walker won't know. I'll be careful. See you tomorrow," Devin said laughing. "I'll head Sunrise

"Devin, listen to me-hello? Devin?-"

He'd already hung up.

Autumn was petrified. If Devin ran into Mr. Walker, it'd be a disaster.

She knew there'd be no sleep for her tonight.

Meanwhile, the Salstrom house was calm and cozy.

Herman finished his shower and climbed into bed, gently taking the

book out of Anastasia's hands. His

voice was soft and deep Babe time

for bed .

Anastasia pressed her hands against his chest. “Wait—shouldn't we go visit Autumn and her new baby?"

"Autumn's got enough on her plate

without us showing up," Herman said, teasing as he pulled her closer. "Besides, I already gave Devina,

heads-up