Chapter 1136

Autumn couldn't shake the feeling that Mr. Walker was speaking in riddles, but she wasn't brave enough to call him out or even ask what he really meant.

She kept her worries bottled up. In the end, Mr. Walker drove her back to the hospital, separating her from her son.

For a new mom, being apart from her baby is heartbreak enough. For Autumn, who'd become a mother later in life, the pain was just that much sharper.

Night crept in. Mr. Walker didn't stay he made some excuse about work and slipped away.

Autumn sat alone in her hospital room, lost in her thoughts. It got late. Still, no sign of Devin. Riverdale wasn't that far from H City; if he wanted to come, a day was more than enough.

With Mr. Walker gone, Devin should have shown up. But he never did.

Anxious, Autumn finally called Devin. His phone was already off.

She didn't realize that was the last time she'd ever dial his number-no one would ever pick up again.

It wasn't long before Ross quietly handed her call log over to Mr. Walker.

Staring at the screen, Mr. Walker felt like someone was twisting a knife in his chest.

His wife had gone behind his back, still keeping in touch with Devin.

"Leave," he told Ross, waving him off. "This stays between us."

"Yes, godfather," Ross replied, not daring to say another word.

After Ross left, Mr. Walker heard the baby crying. He got up and walked to the nursery. Shirley, the night nanny, was gently rocking the baby, trying to settle him.

"Sorry, Mr. Walker, I didn't mean to wake you. Little Sam was hungry," Shirley apologized softly.

"It's fine. Go ahead and feed him,” Mr. Walker said, sinking into a chair nearby. He watched Shirley feed the baby, then suddenly asked, "Shirley, do you think he looks like me?"

The question startled her. Who'd dare say otherwise?

She managed a polite smile. “Sam's eyes and eyebrows look just like yours, Mr. Walker."

"I don't see it," Mr. Walker said, leaning in, studying the baby's face. "Not at all, really."

Shirley blanched, barely daring to breathe.

People on the outside usually saw these things most clearly.

Mr. Walker muttered, almost to himself, "As long as he's got the Walker name, that's enough."

There was so much resignation in his voice.

He turned and left.

Shirley let out a long breath, feeling

both relieved and sorry for Mr. Walker To have a child so late in life, only to see nothing of himself in the boy he must know the truth but what could he do but accept it?

As a nanny, she knew to keep quiet. Once the baby was settled, she made a little supper-some warm milk and a sandwich-and brought it to Mr. Walker.

"Mr. Walker, you should take care of yourself. Rest up your health comes first," she said gently.

"Thank you." Mr. Walker managed a

thin smile. Shirley was not yet forty, a good ten years younger than him Her real name was Linda Liu, but everyone called her Shirley. He'd hired her because she was from his hometown. sŵnovel

"Shirley, do you have any children?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I did. My son drowned when he was ten, swimming in the

river. After that, I divorced and came to Riverdale to work."

"You've had a rough time," Mr. Walker sighed. "Take good care of Sam. Treat him like your own."

Shirley was stunned, grateful and confused all at once. She was just the nanny- how could she treat her boss's child like her own?

She didn't dwell on it and slipped out quietly.

From that day on, something inside Mr. Walker changed. Out in the world, he and Autumn acted like the perfect couple-loving, inseparable. At least, that's how it looked to everyone else.

But deep down, there was a wall between them now.

What man could accept that his wife had betrayed him? Worse, that she'd had a child with someone else and passed it off as his?

No matter how the rumors churned outside, Mr. Walker had to pretend nothing was wrong. He pressed ahead with plans for Sam's lavish one-month celebration, sending invitations to half the city.

When Herman got his invite, he barely batted an eye. Flynn said, "Herman, Mr. Walker finally has a son at his age He's really going Our heard everyone whos anyone got an invite."

all

"With Mr. Walker's status, people would kill to get in,” Herman replied, tossing the invitation aside.

Flynn, who loved a bit of gossip, lowered his voice. "Word is, the kid isn't really his. Herman, do you think it's true?"

Herman shot him a sideways look. "Don't give me those big, dumb puppy eyes. Makes me question if we even share the same mother."

"Herman," Flynn grumbled, looking put out.

Just then, Dailey walked in, expression grim. "Boss, Devin's been missing for days. No one's heard a thing."