The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 110

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

Mars Wright stood frozen, as if the very ground beneath him had turned to ice, the biting sting of Autumn’s words echoing in his mind like a haunting refrain. Confusion and heartache twisted together in his chest, a storm of emotions that he had never experienced before. This was new territory; Autumn had never spoken to him with such chilling detachment. What had caused this sudden shift in her demeanor?

He risked a glance at her, and his heart sank further as he noticed a flicker of nausea cross her face, a clear indication that she was grappling with her own turmoil. How could he look so affected? Did he truly grasp the weight of their recent exchange? Autumn, with a resolve that surprised even herself, shook her head, choosing to push aside the tension that hung thick in the air. Instead, she directed her focus toward the host, her voice steady and firm as she declared that the invitation Lydia and Mars had brought was rightfully hers.

“We’ve confirmed it. This is indeed your invitation, Ms. Lopez. We sincerely apologize for the delay. Please, you may proceed inside.” The host’s demeanor was unexpectedly warm, a stark contrast to the icy atmosphere that had just enveloped them. The surrounding crowd, oblivious to the deeper implications of their interaction, merely assumed Autumn was receiving special treatment due to her unfortunate experience at the entrance. A flicker of doubt crossed Autumn’s face, revealing her inner conflict, but she quickly masked it.

At first, she had believed that Mars and Lydia were being held up due to the last-minute ID checks instituted by Owen Bennett. Yet, the host’s friendly demeanor sparked a new thought in her mind. Could it be…?

“Autumn, wait—” Mars called out, his voice tinged with urgency as he realized she was about to slip inside without him. He lunged forward, desperation fueling his movement, but a surge of people surged toward the entrance, blocking his path.

“Mr. Bennett!”

“Can you believe it? Mr. Bennett is actually here today!”

The orderly line had morphed into a chaotic throng, everyone clamoring for a glimpse of Owen Bennett, the elusive CEO of the Bennett Group. His appearances were often shrouded in mystery, leaving attendees buzzing with speculation about whether they would catch a fleeting glimpse of him. They had arrived with a “you never know” mindset, hoping for a chance encounter that would be a delightful bonus. If not, it would be no great loss; after all, there would always be another opportunity. Who would have guessed that luck would be on their side today? Owen Bennett was actually present.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy, nearly stumbling over one another in their eagerness to get closer to him. Mars felt the pressure of the throng jostling him, nearly losing his balance in the chaos. When he finally regained his footing and looked up, not only had Autumn vanished, but Owen was nowhere in sight either. Frustration boiled within him, igniting a deep sense of injustice and anger.

“Are these people just a bunch of clout-chasers? It’s as if I’m invisible!” he exclaimed, bitterness lacing his voice.

Lydia, standing beside him, felt an overwhelming urge to roll her eyes. Who on earth gave Mars the misguided notion that he could even be remotely compared to Owen Bennett? In terms of looks, status, family background, and capabilities—Mars was nowhere near the same league. Was that not glaringly obvious?

“Mars, what are we supposed to do now? My sister went in with the invitation, and we’re left out here!” Lydia’s voice trembled with anxiety as she grabbed his arm, shaking it with urgency. “Mars, you need to do something! The auction is about to start!”

Her mind raced back to the sole reason she had come to the auction: to catch Owen Bennett’s attention. Now that he was inside, and she remained stuck at the entrance, she couldn’t help but silently curse Mars for being so utterly useless. If he hadn’t promised he could get her in, she would have simply used the invitation Mrs. Lopez had given her. Sure, that invitation was for seats in the outer section, but at least it was something—far better than being left out in the cold!

Regret gnawed at Lydia’s insides as she reflected on her decision.

“What’s the hold-up?” Mars lifted his chin defiantly, a flicker of determination igniting within him. “I’m the CEO of Cloudbreak Corporation. Do you really think I don’t have an invitation?”

Lydia’s skepticism was palpable, her brows furrowing. If he truly had one, why would he resort to stealing Autumn’s? But in that moment, her desperation for entry outweighed her doubts, so she buried them deep within.

Mars quickly dialed a number, urgency lacing his voice. “An invitation?” his assistant replied, surprise evident in his tone. “Mr. Wright, you haven’t received any invitations to an auction recently.”

Mars’s heart sank, disbelief flooding his mind. “What did you just say?” The CEO of Cloudbreak Corporation… and no invitation?

“That’s correct, sir. Your schedule has been relatively light. I sent you the calendar, and there was no auction listed.”

Mars stood in stunned silence, his mind racing. Lydia, equally flabbergasted, struggled to comprehend the implications. Not many were privy to the details of this auction, but that didn’t imply it was a low-tier event. In fact, it was precisely due to the high value of the items and the elite status of the attendees that the auction remained discreetly under the radar. An invitation was a mark of acceptance into this exclusive circle. In the past, events of this caliber would have practically rolled out the red carpet for Mars. Yet now, he found himself without an invitation.

“Mars, you genuinely didn’t receive an invitation?” Lydia asked, incredulity etched on her face.

“Do you think they assumed you and my sister are a couple, so they only sent one to her?”

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