The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 118

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

Autumn Lopez felt an unsettling knot form in her stomach as she glanced at her phone. The identity of the caller was painfully obvious, and that realization was the very reason she hesitated to answer. Instead of succumbing to the anxiety that gnawed at her, she opted to lose herself in the familiar comforts of her nightly routine, savoring the quietude that enveloped her. It wasn’t until she had nestled into the plush embrace of her bed, cocooned in soft blankets, that she felt compelled to confront the device she had been pointedly ignoring.

With a reluctant sigh, she reached for her phone, and her heart sank as the screen lit up with a shocking barrage of notifications: seventeen missed calls, thirty unread messages, and an unending stream of WhatsApp alerts clamoring for her attention.

A mix of annoyance and curiosity washed over her, and just as she contemplated silencing the cacophony and tossing the phone aside, the screen illuminated once more with an incoming call.

Clearly, they were relentless tonight.

With a resigned breath, she swiped to answer, mentally preparing herself for the storm that was about to break.

The moment she accepted the call, a thunderous voice erupted from the receiver, shaking her from her thoughts.

“Autumn Lopez, where on earth have you been?” His voice boomed through the line, thick with impatience and barely concealed rage.

“Do we need to go through the United Nations to get a hold of you?” he continued, sarcasm dripping from his words.

“You think you’ve grown wings, huh?”

Her father’s voice crackled with barely contained fury, each syllable a testament to the escalating frustration that had been building between them. Autumn took a moment to steady herself, pressing the speakerphone button, allowing his wrath to fill the room like an unwelcome storm cloud.

“Is there something specific you need?” she asked, her tone steady and calm, a stark contrast to the tempest brewing on the other end.

For a fleeting moment, her father was taken aback, momentarily rendered speechless by her composed demeanor. But it didn’t last long; regaining his composure, he launched into his accusations, still simmering with indignation. “I’m asking you, why did you bully your sister today? Why did you humiliate her and Mars in front of everyone?”

So, this was the purpose of his call—a score to settle. Not entirely surprising, given the chaotic dynamics of their family.

Even though she had anticipated this confrontation, a sharp pang of hurt pierced through Autumn’s heart at her father’s blatantly one-sided accusations.

She had always been the accommodating one, bending over backward to support her family, only to find herself blamed for every little mishap.

To the Lopez family, she was merely a pawn, a tool to be manipulated as they saw fit. They expected her to sacrifice her own happiness, her parents’ affection, and even her very identity for the sake of Lydia’s ambitions. After marriage, they would expect her to relinquish her husband and her own sense of self.

It was absurd.

If they had shown even a hint of gratitude for her sacrifices, perhaps she wouldn’t harbor such deep-seated resentment towards them.

“What does this have to do with me?”

Autumn’s tone was frigid, laced with heavy sarcasm. “Wasn’t it Mars who attempted to snatch my invitation first?”

“Is there anything Lydia has ever desired that I haven’t provided? If she wanted to attend the auction, couldn’t she have simply obtained her own invitation? If not, couldn’t she just ask me for it? Why did she need Mars to steal mine? Are they that close?”

“Well…”

At the mention of Mars and Lydia’s connection, her father fell into an uneasy silence. After a lengthy pause, he responded, his voice lacking its earlier conviction, “That’s beside the point.”

“I’m referring to your sister being doused with water in the auction house restroom and turned into a laughingstock. Why didn’t you, as her older sister, step in to assist her?”

Autumn had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.

She had always known that Lydia and her parents played fast and loose with the truth, but she never imagined Lydia would still be spinning the narrative after today’s events.

“You mean to say you wanted me to announce that the person fooling around with a man in the men’s restroom, igniting a fire and nearly causing a disaster at the auction house, was Lydia?”

“From what I heard, that scandalous couple was such a mess that no one could recognize them. Are you seriously asking me to clarify for everyone that, oops, sorry, that was my sister?”

Her father fell completely silent, the weight of the truth pressing heavily upon him.

All he knew was that Lydia had nearly been caught in a fire at the auction. And then he had learned that Autumn had made a scene at the entrance, which had prompted his furious call.

Who could have guessed the real story behind it all?

“By the way, who was the guy?” Autumn asked, feigning curiosity.

Of course, she was well aware that the scumbag was Mars, but revealing that particular truth at this moment would only raise alarms.

The cooling-off period for their divorce was nearly over; she would settle all their debts, both new and old, soon enough.

“How would I know!” Her father’s voice trembled, guilt evident as he attempted to shield Lydia. “It was probably some man trying to frame your sister.”

Autumn nearly burst into laughter.

“Are you suggesting that a man dragged Lydia into the men’s restroom and attempted to assault her?”

He contemplated for a moment, his tone shifting to one of resolve. “You know Autumn’s temper. If she truly knew about Lydia and Mars, would she be this calm?”

“That’s a valid point,” Mrs. Lopez conceded, a look of realization dawning on her face.

Oliver began pacing the room, his mind racing. Suddenly, he clapped his hands together, determination shining in his eyes. “No, we can’t just sit back and wait.”

“We have to reclaim the Lopez Group!”

In Oliver’s mind, the only reason Autumn was exhibiting such defiance was due to the revival of the Lopez Group through its partnership with Mistveil Group.

If the company were still the struggling entity it had once been, barely surviving, Autumn would merely be an employee at Cloudbreak Corporation, tiptoeing around Mars for every little thing. How could she possibly be so bold?

“What are you planning to do?”

Mrs. Lopez felt a twinge of unease. She wanted her husband to tread carefully, to gauge Autumn’s hand before making any rash moves.

She had paid too little attention to Autumn over the years, and with Lydia preoccupied with Mars, they were sorely lacking in information. Autumn’s recent behavior was perplexing, a stark departure from the girl they once knew.

Mrs. Lopez didn’t want to act recklessly. Her only hope was that her husband could extract some vital information from Autumn, something that would illuminate their next steps.

Past experiences had taught her that impulsive actions would only lead to disaster.

To succeed, patience was key.

After all, hadn’t she waited for years before seizing her opportunity to ascend to her current position?

“I’m going to call a shareholders’ meeting.”

As Autumn lay in her bed, the weight of the confrontation with her father settled heavily upon her. The chaotic exchange had illuminated the suffocating dynamics of her family, revealing the relentless expectations that had long dictated her life. In that moment, she felt a flicker of clarity amid the turmoil; her father’s anger was not a reflection of her worth but rather a desperate attempt to maintain control over a narrative that no longer served her. The realization that she could reclaim her voice, that she could step away from the role of the dutiful daughter, sparked a sense of empowerment within her. Autumn understood that the path to peace required shedding the burdens of familial obligation and embracing her own truth, even if it meant standing alone.

With a newfound resolve, Autumn embraced the uncertainty of her future. The call had been a catalyst, igniting a fire within her that had long been dormant. No longer would she allow her family’s expectations to dictate her happiness or define her identity. As she drifted off to sleep, she envisioned a life where she chased her own light, free from the shadows of her past. The journey ahead was daunting, but for the first time, Autumn felt a sense of peace in the chaos. She was ready to confront the world on her own terms, to find her place in the sun, and to finally live for herself.

In the upcoming chapter of “Chasing Light, Finding Peace,” readers can expect the tension between Autumn and her family to escalate even further. With her father’s fury still simmering, the stakes are raised as he devises a plan to regain control over Autumn and the family business. The shareholders’ meeting promises to be a pivotal moment, one that could either empower Autumn to assert her independence or ensnare her in the web of familial expectations that she desperately seeks to escape. How will she navigate this treacherous landscape, especially with the looming threat of her father’s machinations?

As Autumn grapples with her family’s relentless pressure, we may also witness the blossoming of her relationship with Mars. With their shared history and unspoken feelings, will he step in as a source of support, or will his connection with Lydia complicate matters further? The chapter is poised to delve into the intricate dynamics of loyalty and betrayal, testing Autumn’s resolve and forcing her to confront the painful truths about her family and herself. Prepare for a whirlwind of emotions as secrets unravel and alliances are tested, leaving readers eager to see how Autumn will reclaim her identity amidst the chaos.