The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Autumn Lopez’s hands tightened into fists.

The mansion Mars was talking about had been a wedding gift from her grandmother. But when Cloudbreak Corporation was just starting out, she had mortgaged it for a business loan. Later, because of a bad business decision Mars made, the bank foreclosed on the property.

After Cloudbreak took off, he bought the mansion back, but he never put it in her name.

She’d always assumed it didn’t matter whose name was on the deed–they were married, after all. She never imagined Mars would actually use the house to threaten her!

That was the only thing she had left from her grandmother!

Mars knew perfectly well that she’d been raised by her grandmother and that their bond was incredibly special. He knew how much that house meant to her, yet he could bring it up so casually!

The more Autumn thought about it, the angrier she got. Finally, she threw back the covers and asked Julian Moore to get

her some clothes.

“Ma’am, are you leaving the hospital?”

Julian looked worried. “But you really should stay for observation.”

“I have to take care of something.”

Julian didn’t dare to stop her, so he just went and got the clothes for her.

The moment Autumn touched the fabric, she could tell it was from a high–end designer. When she put it on, she found

that it fit her curves perfectly. The design was so ingenious you couldn’t even tell it was maternity wear, yet it was comfortably loose around her belly.

“What brand is this?”

Autumn’s baby bump was starting to show, and she desperately needed a few nice maternity outfits for more formal

occasions.

“Mr. Bennett had them custom–made. The rest have already been delivered to the house. You’ll see them when you get

back, Ma’am.”

Owen Bennett had them custom–made?

A wave of complicated emotions washed over Autumn.

A man as busy as Owen Bennett actually thought to get me maternity clothes?

Autumn had assumed Owen was only helping her with a place to stay for the baby’s sake. She never expected him to handle something as minor as her wardrobe so perfectly.

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And on top of that, she had only moved in a few days ago.

For him to move this fast, he either paid a fortune for a rush job or he started preparing a long time ago.

Autumn quickly dismissed the second possibility.

She and Owen had been complete strangers before. Why would he have prepared these things in advance?

She’d only just found out she was pregnant herself.

“Please thank Mr. Bennett for me.”

Since he had gone to the trouble, Autumn didn’t refuse. She thanked him graciously, grabbed her phone, and walked out.

Julian offered to drive her, but Autumn didn’t want to drag anyone from the Bennett Group into her personal drama with Mars. She refused and called an Uber straight to the Golden Splendor Estate.

Julian watched her car pull away, then took out his phone to call Owen Bennett.

“Mr. Bennett, she’s left the hospital.”

Inside private room 8888 at the Golden Splendor Estate.

Mars Wright was at the center of a fawning crowd, his arm wrapped around Lydia Lopez.

These were all people who had attended Mars and Autumn’s wedding, yet no one even batted an eye at the sight of him

with his arm around his own sister–in–law.

Someone even joked, “Damn, Mars, you’re the man. Bagged both of the Lopez sisters. So, who’s better? The older one or the younger one?”

Just as Mars was about to answer, Lydia pouted in his arms, displeased. “How can you guys talk about my sister and me

like that?”

Mars’s intended reply turned into a reprimand for his friends. “Yeah, how can you talk about Lydia like that?”

The rest of them roared with laughter.

*Ooh, look at you, getting all protective.”

“If you ask me, Autumn has no shame. You clearly met Lydia first. If she hadn’t stuck her nose in, you two would’ve been

together ages ago.”

“She never would’ve had a chance.”

“Besides, three years of marriage and she couldn’t even pop out a kid. Had to go through IVF just to get pregnant. Mars,

I’m not trying to hate on Autumn, but seriously, she can’t hold a candle to Lydia in any way.”

Mars snorted. “You can think that stuff, but do you have to say it out loud?”

He drained the glass in front of him and said with a grim face, “She’s pregnant now. As long as she takes care of herself and gives me this child, her title as Mrs. Wright is secure, even if I can’t give her all my love. No one can change that.”

Hearing this, the others whistled and cheered, calling Mars a real class act

Lydia leaned against Mars’s chest, lowering her eyes to hide the displeasure in them.

So the title of Mrs. Wright belongs to Autumn, and no one can change that? Then what about me?

Am I supposed to be his mistress forever?

Why should I be the one who has to stay in the shadows?

“We’ve been here for a while. How come Autumn isn’t here yet? Mars, don’t tell me this is gonna blow up in your face.”

Mars frowned at that, then his expression changed as he suddenly remembered Autumn was in the hospital trying to prevent a miscarriage.

“I just remembered, she wasn’t feeling well today. She’s at the hospital.”

The others looked stunned. “At the hospital?”

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“Why didn’t you say so earlier, Mars? If we’d known she was in the hospital, we wouldn’t have made this bet with you.”

To outsiders, Mars and Autumn were the perfect, loving couple. But to this inner circle, Autumnn was just a puppy dog who followed Mars around, desperate for his approval.

They had often made bets with Mars before, daring him to order Autumn around to do things for him.

Mars always played along, and every time, they got to watch Autumn fawning all over him. It was their own private comedy show.

Today’s get–together was no exception.

They wanted to see just how low Autumn’s bottom line was, so they’d told Mars to call her over so they could mess with

her.

They never expected her to actually be in the hospital.

Now, the group was hesitant to continue the bet.

After all, Autumn was pregnant. And after what Mars had just said, none of them were particularly eager to get on the bad side of Mrs. Wright.

“That’s just how my sister is,” Lydia chimed in smoothly. “She got upset when she saw me bringing food for Mars, and they had a huge fight. Then she claimed her stomach hurt and went to the hospital, but she refuses to tell us which one. Honestly, our grandmother spoiled her rotten. She’s always so impulsive. You all just have to bear with her.”

Hearing Lydia’s explanation, the looks on the others‘ faces turned to contempt.

“So it’s just a ploy to get attention!”

“Autumn is so high–maintenance. Only you could put up with her, Mars.”

At her words, Mars’s flicker of concern faded, replaced by pure indignation.

Autumn really had gone too far today. Tonight would serve as a good lesson for her.

“I’m going to win this bet. Just you watch, Mars said, full of confidence in Autumn.

She loved him so much. Of course she would come.

When it came to betting on Autumn, he had never lost.

The minutes ticked by. As the deadline for the bet approached and Autumn still hadn’t appeared, a hint of frustrated anxiety crept onto Mars’s face.

Lydia noticed his shift in mood, and her eyes darkened.

Just when everyone thought Mars was about to lose, a knock finally sounded at the door of the private room.