The Bound Between Us

Mr. Walker stepped out of the bedroom, pausing at the door for a moment. He looked back at Autumn, who was resting quietly on the bed, then gently closed the door behind him.

In the study, his assistant came in carrying a stack of files. "Mr. Walker, here's what you asked for."

He opened the folder to find piles of photographs. They were snapshots of Autumn meeting Ben, along with some from her college days.

One group photo caught his eye-—it was a little blurry, but Mr. Walker immediately recognized the two men beside Autumn. Ben was on her left, Devin on her right.

Back in college, Autumn was the belle of the class-everyone loved her.

Without a word, Mr. Walker slid the photos into a manila envelope, his face giving nothing away. He turned to his assistant. “What's happening over there?"

"Last night, Rowan was poisoned and Jason rushed him to the hospital. They managed to save him, and he was sent home this morning," the assistant reported. "Rowan's sticking to his story, insisting Mrs. Walker was the one behind it all."

Mr. Walker's expression darkened. Trouble doesn't come out of nowhere, and now it was Autumn who was in the crosshairs—she wouldn't be able to walk away from this so easily.

He'd already suspected Autumn might be involved in Anastasia's kidnapping. Now, all the signs pointed right to her.

The assistant watched him, a hint of worry in his eyes. "Sir, I really don't think Mrs. Walker had anything to do with this."

Whether she did or not, Mr. Walker knew the truth deep down. With all this evidence and Rowan's accusation, if it weren't for his protection, Autumn would have been hauled in for questioning already.

“Go on,” Mr. Walker said, waving him off. “Call me if anything comes up at the office."

"Yes, sir."

called out again. "Have someone keep an eye on Herman. I want

"Yes, sir."

since Rowan confessed, Herman had disappeared from the scene. That

accusing him of being the mastermind behind her kidnapping, it didn't make sense

lit a cigar. Alone in

exactly what it meant to protect Autumn, and the conflict ate at

by others, never once betraying his conscience. But today, he knew he was

to the public. The only person

barely ever showing her the care she deserved. Husband and wife were supposed to be a team-he couldn't let her down

he searched for the truth in secret, he

grew darker

Walker left the house alone, no security

had just stepped out of the building when he spotted Mr. Walker waiting across

what was going

you two go on ahead," Herman said to his men. Then he crossed the street alone to meet Mr.

greeted him with a

Walker calling him

was cool, almost indifferent, as he played dumb.

if we talk privately?" Mr. Walker's voice

to see where this

or later, they'd have to face off. The more you know

had been cleared out for them. Only the two of