The m of Mr. Walker''s palm on the table almost sent Devin''s soul flying out of his body.

His knees buckled so hard he nearly copsed. "M-Mr. Walker, there''s no way that''s my kid! This has to be a misunderstanding. Mrs. Walker and I... we were just ssmates, that''s all. Whatever happened back then was just stupid stuff from when we were young and clueless, nothing more."

No matter what Autumn had said, Devin clung desperately to denial.

He wasn''t an idiot-admitting it would be signing his own death warrant.

With a single word, Mr. Walker could have Devin locked up for life, or worse, make him disappear without a trace.

Seeing Devin refuse to budge, Mr. Walker''s face went cold and hard. His voice rang out, sharp and unforgiving. "Devin, don''t say I never gave you a chance. If you won''t own up today, then from now on, Autumn and the child she''s carrying are mine. If I hear even a whisper about this, don''t me me for whates next."

Devin stood frozen, stunned. What was Mr. Walker getting at?

Did he know the truth about whose child it was?

And if he did, why would he im the baby as his own?

Devin was so scared he hardly dared breathe. Mr. Walker, clearly disgusted, didn''t spare him another nce.

He opened the door and tossed a final warning over his shoulder. "Don''t let me see you in Riverdale again." Then he walked out, his men trailing after.

It was a long time before Devin snapped out of it. His legs gave out and he slumped to the floor, heart pounding.

He couldn''t figure Mr. Walker out at all.

With shaking hands, Devin called Autumn. She hesitated to answer-she was scared too—but worried something serious had happened, she picked up.

"Devin, why are you calling me?"

"Mr. Walker just came looking for me." Devin forced down the lump in his throat. "He told me to take responsibility for your baby. I said no. Then he said from now on, your baby is his. What is that supposed to mean, Autumn? What did you tell him? I told you to go back and keep things calm!"

Autumn was floored, tears welling up in her eyes.

Mr. Walker knew the baby wasn''t his, but he still chose to ept it.

Guilt hit Autumn like a wave. She felt she''d let Mr. Walker down.

Compared to Devin, Mr. Walker was a real man.

"Don''t call me again," Autumn said quietly but firmly. "It''s settled. Remember-our

child takes Walker''s name from now on."fne630 Chapters first released on Find?Novel/fne630

With that, she hung up.

Devin was left in the dark, stillpletely lost about what Mr. Walker was really thinking. Afraid that Mr. Walker might c Walker mighte after

thatret, he hurriedly packed

him in secret,

his bags and got out of Riverdale, nning toy low for a while.

s

Meanwhile, as soon as Mr. Walker left the hotel, word spread quickly to Herman.

Elysian Technologies.

CEO''s Office.

Nelson gave his report with care.

"Mr. Salstrom, right after Mr. Walker left the hotel, Devin disappeared.

Earlier this morning. Mr. Walker and Autumn went to the hospital the hospital

checked they were there fona

paternity test, but Mr. Walker backed

out at thest minute."

belongs to s

"And Devin''s already left Riverdale." Nelson frowned. "Mr. Salstrom, after what Devin did, I can''t believe Mr. Walker just let him walk away."

Herman''s expression darkened. This wasn''t the news he wanted.

"Looks like I underestimated Mr. Walker and Autumn''s marriage," Herman said,

his voice cold as ice. "For a man to forgive his wife''s affair and ept a child that isn''t his... That''s almost unheard of."

He''d thought the scandal with Autumn and Devin would force Mr. Walker to make a choice.

But instead, they''d left the hospital together-no test, no scene.

Clearly, Mr. Walker couldn''t bring himself to let go of his marriage.

Nelson offered, "Maybe Mr. Walker just wants a child so badly, he''s willing to look

the other way. The baby might not be his, but his wife still is."

Herman''s mouth twisted into a frosty smile. "Not many men could swallow that. But it throws a wrench into our ns."

"And one more thing, Mr. Salstrom. Our shipments at the port-the customs clearance still hasn''t gone through. They''re refusing to sign off, saying something''s wrong with the goods." Nelson hesitated: "Do you think Mr. Walker''s behind this?" Cóntent belongs to s