The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

A woman's bad luck always starts the moment she feels sorry for a man. That's just how it goes.

When Devin slapped himself, it hurt Autumn more than it hurt him. She rushed over, grabbing his hand before he could do it again. "What are you doing?"

As she tried to stop him, her eyes drifted to the table and spotted a gift.

Devin, shameless as ever, noticed and jumped right in. “That's for you. I owe you so much, and I'm broke. I can't buy you anything fancy, so I just got you some flowers."

It was a bouquet the hotel sent up, along with a box of condoms part of a

"special guest" package. Dailey, desperate for a plan, had arranged it so the staff would deliver the flowers with a miniature camera hidden inside, all under the guise of hotel hospitality.

Honestly, getting flowers and condoms from a hotel isn't unheard of. Devin didn't think twice and just let them drop it off.

When Autumn realized the flowers were for her, she couldn't help but smile. For a second, she felt like she was back at the start of their relationship, giddy and young.

Devin handed her the bouquet. "Do you like it?"

As he did, the tiny camera fell deeper into the arrangement, and over on the other end, Herman lost the video feed. Luckily, he could still hear everything.

No matter how old you get, flowers always feel romantic.

Autumn hesitated, then took them. "You didn't have to waste money on me."

Look a little closer, and you'd see the blush on her cheeks—a telltale sign she still cared.

Devin, old hand at this, saw his opening. He took her hands in his, looked deep into her eyes, and said, "Swallow, all these years, I've never stopped thinking about you."

Who could resist words like those? They made a woman feel special, soothed old wounds, and flattered her heart.

But Autumn had a bit of sense left. She was married.

"Devin, that was years ago. Let's not talk about it. I have a family now."

She was reminding Devin, and herself.

She had a husband-she couldn't betray him.

Devin, though, saw his chance and wasn't about to let it slip. He pulled her into

his arms. "Swallow, I've missed you every single day for over twenty years. I just kept it all buried."

He started to touch her, and the flowers tumbled from Autumn's hands. She froze. "Devin, don't-"

But Devin wasn't stopping. He was a man of action, after all.

He might have felt guilty, but Devin always looked out for himself. Autumn's circumstances had changed-she could help him now, and he needed her.

Old flames are easy to reignite.

Devin kissed her, hands wandering. "Swallow, I want you. I've missed you so much."

He was as eager as he'd been when they first met.

Autumn and Mr. Walker's marriage was more of a routine than a romance— dutiful, dull, and as they got older, they barely touched each other anymore. Even women in their fifties need warmth.

Devin's passion swept Autumn away.

"Devin, we can't-"

She tried to resist, but in the commotion, her heel crushed the hidden camera on the floor.

Back at Southridge Estates, Herman swore under his breath. Of all times for the feed to die!

Anastasia, having just put the kids to bed, walked in to find Herman scowling at his phone. "What's wrong?"

He shrugged. "Was watching a middle-aged soap opera livestream-got cut off halfway."

Anastasia stared. "You watch that kind of thing?"

Herman grinned, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "It was Devin and Autumn. I had Dailey plant a camera in Devin's hotel room. It was just getting interesting, and

then kaput. Camera mustermet?

busted."

gotten

Anastasia's eyes went wide. "Autumn's cheating on Mr. Walker? With Devin? And she's always so good to Julie... is that because of Devin?"

Herman nodded. "Julie's their daughter."

The truth left Anastasia stunned, but now everything made sense.

"No wonder," she whispered.

No wonder Autumn cared so much about Daria-her own grandson.

Back at the hotel, Devin was still busy betraying Mr. Walker. Autumn, starved for affection, stopped fighting and wanted more.

Devin put his all into it, knowing if he took care of Autumn now, she'd be on his side later.

Sure, Autumn was older, but she was well-kept-never had to do hard labor, always had time to herself. Lights off, and age didn't matter.

Their passion filled the room. After half an hour, everything went quiet.

Devin, arm around Autumn, grinned. "Feel good? Still got it, huh?"

Autumn blushed, swatting him. "You old rascal."

All their old resentment melted away in the aftermath. Men have simple ways to

make amends, and women always fall for it.

Devin chuckled. "You're just as beautiful as you were back then.”

Autumn said nothing. When the heat faded, guilt crept in. She was still Mr.

Walker's wife.

She sat up, pulling her clothes on. "Let's pretend tonight never happened. I need

to go-he'll be back soon."

Devin sat up too, voice heavy with

regret. "Swallow, I'm sorry. If I hadn't

messed up, you wouldn't havenoveldrama

married him. Poor Julie... If you'd come back to Riverdale sooner you could've protected her. The

Satstroms would never have treated her so badly."

Mentioning their daughter made Autumn's heart ache.

Devin twisted the knife. "The Salstroms are the worst. It all started with Grannie Anita and Katelyn, always pushing Julie and Herman together. If it weren't for

them, none of this would've

happened. And then Joseph-he's a

monster."

Autumn's regret deepened if only she'd come back sooner, she could've seen

her daughter once more.

The pain turned to anger. She hated Katelyn most of all.

Why was her daughter any less than Anastasia?

If Katelyn and Grannie Anita hadn't strung Julie along with false hope, Julie

wouldn't have ended up like she did.

Autumn clenched her jaw. "I'll get justice for Julie. The Salstroms are throwing a birthday party for their eldest daughter in two days. My girl is dead, and they want to celebrate? Not a chance."