Autumn''s words made Mr. Walker''s jaw drop. He let out a humorlessugh. "You expect me to believe you were just looking after Devin? Alone, the two of you, in a hotel room? Autumn, do you take me for aplete idiot?"

His anger was boiling over-this was his wife, the woman he''d always protected, standing here spouting some righteous nonsense and acting in ways he could hardly even grasp.

Tears welled up in Autumn''s eyes. She looked at Mr. Walker, hurt and wronged, but there was a stubborn spark in her gaze. "If that''s really what you think if you honestly can''t trust me-then I''ve got nothing left to say. Just let our childe into this world without a father."

That hit Mr. Walker like a punch to the gut.

Autumn refused to back down, wouldn''t admit a thing, and instead tossed all the me back onto him. "If you insist on thinking that way, I have nothing to say"—it was the ultimate line, and she delivered it like a pro.

When she brought up their unborn child, Mr. Walker''s temper snapped again. He pointed at Autumn''s belly, his voice icy. "And how do I even know if that baby''s mine?"

The second he said it, Autumn exploded. She snatched the ss off the table and hurled it, rage shing in her eyes-she was even angrier than he was. "Mr. Walker, insult me all you want, don''t believe me if you must, but don''t you dare question this child! Am I really that worthless to you? You want to humiliate me like this? This is the Walker family''s own blood! If I''ve lied about any of this, may I never know peace!"

She stood there, so righteous, tears streaming down her face, as if she''d suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

For a moment, Mr. Walker hesitated.

Autumn''s face was streaked with tears, her whole body shaking with anger. The look she gave him was pure disappointment-every detail perfectly yed.

Mr. Walker clenched his fists, his eyes lingering on her belly. His voice softened just a bit. "Autumn, what man in his right mind could ept his wife sneaking off to a hotel in the middle of the night with another man? And not just any man-your first love, no less. I brought you here to Riverdale because I wanted a better life for us both. I never asked about your past, but now-how am I supposed to trust you?"  s

When he used her name like that, Autumn knew he was wavering. If she yed

her cards right—acted a little vulnerable, leaned on their years of marriage-she could get through this.

She wiped at

at her tears, her voice low and trembling. "Why didn''t I ever tell you about my past? Because after meeting you, I felt like I''d gotten a second chance at life. I didn''t want to look back. All these years, never Came to Riverdale. I didn''t know-Devin lied to me back then, told me my child

was dead. I''ve been sincere with you all these years. I

know I haven''t given the Walker

family a child, but you never med me, and I''ve always remembered how good you''ve been to me."  s

She started listing all the ways he''d treated her well, ying up the emotion.

Mr. Walker stayed quiet, his face still dark. Autumn pressed on. "Mr. Walker, I know how much you''ve done for me. I''ve always felt guilty that I couldn''t give the Walker family a child. Do you know why I miscarried back then? I was terrified when I heard something happened to you at the dam―I panicked and that''s how I lost the baby."

Of course, she was making this part up.

But to Mr. Walker, it hit hard. He stared at her, shaken. "Why didn''t you ever tell me?"

"The baby was already gone-telling you would''ve just made you me yourself." Autumn looked at him, her voice gentle. "Having a husband who

really cares about people, that''s proud. Not having a

-made me. child, that''s my only regret. When I found out I was pregnant recently, do you know how happy I was? Even if I died, I''d finally have the courage to face your ancestors."  s

Every word went straight to Mr. Walker''s heart.fn7cf3 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?ndnovel/fn7cf3

"Autumn..." he murmured, guilt flooding his face.

Autumn wiped at her tears, voice shaky. “Mr. Walker, I lied to you about Julie. That was wrong of me. Do you know how much it hurt to find out she was my daughter? She was part of me, and from the day she was born to the day she

died, she never saw me once. The first time I ever saw her was... after she was gone. I never meant to hide it from you-I just didn''t know how to say it."