The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 108

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace – by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 108**

As the golden hues of autumn enveloped the city, Autumn had anticipated that Owen would accompany her to witness the captivating auction. The air was thick with excitement, and she could hardly contain her eagerness.

However, as they arrived at the elegant auction house, Owen received an unexpected phone call from Julian Moore. The urgency in Julian’s voice was palpable, indicating that an international partner had an immediate need to speak with him.

“You go on ahead,” Owen instructed, his tone firm yet gentle, as he gestured for Autumn to proceed without him. He didn’t want her to miss the unfolding drama inside.

Autumn nodded, her heart slightly sinking at the thought of going in alone. “Okay, I’ll go up and wait for you,” she replied, trying to mask her disappointment with a smile.

Owen opened his mouth to say something more, but just then, his phone rang again, cutting off their conversation. He gave her a quick nod, signaling that he had to take the call, and Autumn turned away, feeling a mix of anticipation and loneliness as she headed towards the entrance of the auction hall.

As she approached the grand entrance, a curious scene unfolded before her. Two figures stood at the door, their path blocked by the stern doorman. The closer she got, the clearer it became that the two individuals were none other than Mars Wright and Lydia Lopez.

“Take a closer look! This is an invitation to the auction. Why can’t we go in?” Mars demanded, his voice laced with entitlement as he attempted to flex his status as the ‘CEO of Cloudbreak’ to the doorman.

“I’m sorry, sir,” the doorman replied, his demeanor unwavering. “Our invitations are non-transferable. Since you are not the person named on the invitation, you cannot enter.”

Mars and Lydia exchanged incredulous glances, their expressions mirroring disbelief. “What the hell? Why would an auction even require non-transferable invitations?” Mars exclaimed, his frustration boiling over.

The doorman’s eyebrow twitched slightly, revealing the struggle within him to maintain his professionalism. He explained, “Tonight’s items are of exceptionally high value. This policy is in place to prevent paparazzi and other undesirable individuals from disrupting the event. It’s a security measure to protect both the items and the privacy of our guests.”

The explanation was straightforward, but Mars feigned ignorance. “We’re not paparazzi, and we have no ‘bad intentions.’ We just want to participate in the auction. Surely, that should grant us entry?”

The doorman’s patience was wearing thin. “Sir, are you joking with us?” he asked, incredulity creeping into his voice.

Mars, taken aback by the doorman’s challenge, scowled, his temper flaring. He was on the verge of unleashing a tirade, but Lydia, sensing the impending chaos, quickly grabbed his arm, her grip firm enough to halt his outburst. If left unchecked, Mars would have undoubtedly thrown a tantrum right there at the entrance.

“Excuse me, could you take a closer look at the invitation?” Lydia interjected sweetly, her voice dripping with charm. “I know it’s tied to a name, but the guest you invited is my sister. Surely, I can go in?” She continued, her tone shifting to a more persuasive note, “And this is Mars, her husband. They’re married, so he should be qualified to enter too, right? We’re all family here.”

“You can’t be so rigid about the rules. You have to be a little flexible, you know?” Mars added, puffing out his chest with an air of superiority.

The doorman regarded him with a look that screamed disbelief. “Then may I ask where your wife is?” he inquired, his voice steady but tinged with sarcasm. “If the person named on the invitation arrives, you are, of course, welcome to enter with her.”

Mars froze, his bravado faltering as the implications of the doorman’s words sank in.

Lydia’s face turned pale, mortification etched across her features.

As the commotion continued, more guests began to arrive, their curiosity piqued by the unfolding spectacle. They gathered around, drawn in by the drama, and their presence only intensified the pressure on Mars and Lydia.

Mars hadn’t anticipated such a crowd, especially not when they looked to be important figures in the industry. His composure began to unravel. “My wife couldn’t make it, so she gave the invitation to us so I could show her sister around! What’s your problem? Is this an interrogation? It’s just an auction; do you really think we’re that desperate to get in?”

For far too long, Mars had been placed on a pedestal, his ego inflated by the praise and adoration of industry peers and online commentators alike. This had led him to become arrogant, losing touch with reality.

The murmurs among the other guests began to grow louder, their laughter ringing in the air.

“Using his wife’s invitation to bring her sister to an auction, and he has the nerve to throw a fit at the door?” one guest whispered, barely able to contain their amusement.

“Seriously, what kind of guy brings his wife’s sister? If his wife can’t come, he should just stay home, right?” another chimed in, the sarcasm evident.

“Hahahaha… Speaking of which, it’s been a while since you came over to hang out with my Audrey. You should come by when you have time. Audrey misses you a lot.”

Autumn and Audrey shared a special bond, one that had initially won over the tough-as-nails Mr. King. Autumn had taken the time to understand Audrey’s interests, spending countless hours with her until the girl finally opened up. That connection had shifted Mr. King’s perception of her, leading him to entrust a project to Cloudbreak.

Though their partnership continued, Autumn knew that Mr. King was beginning to redirect his business focus, and their contract might not be renewed when it expired.

Now, with her own company blossoming, Autumn’s mind raced with possibilities for future collaboration.

“Mr. King—”

She was about to extend a proper greeting and suggest they find a time to discuss business, but before she could finish her thought, Lydia’s voice cut through the moment like a knife.

“Autumn, didn’t you see me and Mars standing right here? Why are you so busy chatting with this old man?”

“You two seem pretty close. Is he an acquaintance of yours, Autumn? Or…?”

The smile that had graced Autumn’s face vanished in an instant. Her eyes turned cold as she shot Mr. King an apologetic glance. “I’m so sorry, please give me one moment,” she murmured, before turning on her heel and delivering a sharp slap across Lydia’s face.

“Autumn!”

Seeing Lydia struck again, Mars rushed over, his concern evident as he steadied her by the shoulders. “Are you crazy? Why would you hit Lydia for no reason? And didn’t I tell you not to come? Why are you here anyway? Do you have any respect for me as your husband?”

The tension in the air crackled like electricity, the stakes of the evening rising higher with each passing moment.