The Bound Between Us

Chapter 1023

Autumn quietly laid out Julie's story, telling everything about her own past with

Devin as well. She held nothing back-except for one thing: the supposed affair in the hotel. On that, Autumn was unwavering.

She insisted she'd only been at the hotel to look after Devin, who was falling apart, and she'd done it out of respect for her late daughter. That was all there was to it.

Mr. Walker believed her when it came to Julie. With Autumn's temperament, if she'd ever known Julie was her own daughter, there's no way she would have done nothing all these years.

Mr. Walker's tone turned serious. "You care so much about Daria. Is it only because she's your granddaughter? You know Julie went to prison for Grannie Anita's murder. And what about Katelyn? Why are you so close to her? Is it all for Daria, or is there something more?"

"It's because of Daria," Autumn cut in sharply. She'd never admit she wanted justice for her daughter, or that she was out for revenge against the Salstrom family.

"Daria grew up without a mother. It's pitiful. And Joseph-he's always been a womanizer. I already let Julie down. I want to make it right for Daria." Her voice trembled. "We've been married for decades. When I married you, we had nothing, and I stuck by you through it all. After everything, can't you give me just a little trust?"

Mr. Walker didn't know what to believe. Two people, alone in a hotel room-it was hard to swallow.

Seeing him hesitate, Autumn decided to go all-in. "Let's go to the hospital right now. We'll get an amniocentesis and a paternity test. If the baby's yours, maybe then you'll finally believe me. But if you need a test to believe me, then we're done. I'm going to change, then we can go."

Walker was floored.

stormed upstairs, too angry

Mr. Walker had considered it, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Saying it out loud

it up herself, he was the one who

the years, remembering how Autumn had stuck with

set. "Let's go. Even if you want

she

into the car and waited, hands clenched, betting everything that

could just get past today, maybe

nervous-so nervous her

the car and said to

but he wouldn't look back. The car pulled

mentioning the paternity test. If it turned out the baby wasn't his, she'd have

ugly truth was, she didn't

for sure whose child it was When she went for her checkup, shet lied about her last

was all up

reached the