The Bound Between Us

Chapter 1034

Cemetery.

Autumn had no clue her secret was already out. She'd come today to visit Julie's grave, hoping for a bit of peace.

Asher was dead at least now, she could tell herself she'd done something for her daughter.

She knelt and laid a bouquet of fresh flowers on the grass. “Julie, the one who hurt you has paid for it. I promised you-no one who wronged you would ever get away."

Now that everyone knew who Julie was, Autumn didn't have to keep things hidden. She'd had the headstone made and put up without any more secrecy.

Thinking of her daughter, Autumn's heart twisted painfully. "Julie, it's all my fault. I should have been there to protect you."

She wiped at her tears, talking softly to the headstone as if Julie might somehow hear her, wishing fate would give them another shot at being mother and daughter.

in the cemetery, Autumn went home. As her car pulled up, she spotted a police

was odd. She told the driver to stop, then hurried out

maybe the police were here to see Mr. Walker. But when she stepped inside, she saw two uniformed officers in the living room-and no sign of her husband.

Jason from the Westbridge Major Crimes Unit. We're here about the kidnapping of Anastasia Salstrom, the co-owner of Elysian Technologies. This is my partner,

politely. "Mrs.

blank. "I don't really see why you're here. My

of her expression. Years in the field had given him a nose for these things, and he noticed how her eyes changed, just a bit, when he mentioned

just turned themselves in. They claim you were the one who orchestrated the kidnapping. I'm here as a matter of procedure to ask you a few questions. I

ridiculous!” Autumn snapped, her face stormy, playing her part to the hilt. "Why would I have anything to do with a kidnapping? Who's saying this? I've never hurt anyone! It must be someone going after my husband. This is all just political scheming, isn't it? Someone's

wasn't stupid-she immediately threw suspicion on anyone who might want to ruin Mr. Walker. In this world, everyone knew how dirty politics could get. Jason sized her up. She wasn't going to be easy. If anything, she was slippery. He kept his tone official. "Mrs. Walker, please stay calm. We're

let that last sentence hang in the air, eyes fixed

icy, her voice steady. "Of course, Detective. You should

for his honesty and dedication-he's respected, and I admire him too. If someone's

ahead and