The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 124

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace – by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 124**

Oliver Lopez found himself teetering on the edge of chaos, utterly unprepared for the tempest that was brewing in front of him. How could Autumn, his beloved daughter, dare to confront him so boldly? It felt as though he was trapped in a drama he had not signed up for, an unwitting actor in a script Autumn had crafted without his knowledge. Her fierce gaze, brimming with determination, seemed to strip away the layers of his defenses, leaving him raw and exposed in a way he had never anticipated.

This wretched daughter of his! The thought churned within him like a bitter storm. Waves of regret crashed against the rocky shores of his pride, flooding his mind with questions. Why hadn’t he distanced himself from Autumn long ago, allowing her to forge her own path? After all, she was merely a daughter. Could she really betray him so easily? The idea that he might bear any responsibility for their fractured relationship didn’t even flicker in his mind. To Oliver, the Lopez Group was not just a business; it was his kingdom, his legacy—a towering monument to his relentless toil and sacrifice.

Even if he had transferred the shares to her, they were still a father’s gift—a benevolent gesture intended to empower her, not to relinquish control entirely. So, what was the harm in wanting to reclaim what he believed was rightfully his? “What’s your angle, dredging up all this irrelevant history?” he snapped, his voice dripping with scorn. Even now, he couldn’t bring himself to entertain the notion that Autumn might possess more capability than he ever recognized. Admitting any weakness was simply out of the question. The Lopez Group was his, and he would defend it fiercely.

He envisioned a glorious return to his former life, celebrating triumphs with his friends on the golf course, savoring the sweet taste of victory. Yet today, if he faltered, the humiliation would be a specter that haunted him, making it impossible to face anyone ever again. “Was my first explanation not clear enough for you?” Autumn retorted, her tone unwavering. She refused to let him sidestep her inquiries or play the fool. With fierce determination, she pressed on, “I want to know who called this shareholders’ meeting without including the majority shareholder!”

Caught in her verbal snare, Oliver felt his pride and dignity slipping away like grains of sand through an hourglass. A wave of indignation surged within him, and in a moment of reckless abandon, he kicked the leg of the table, his voice booming, “It was me! All me! So what if it was?!” The words erupted from him like a dam bursting, flooding the room with his desperation. “Autumn Lopez, do you truly think that just because you’ve held the title of CEO for a few years, you can belittle me? Have you forgotten I am your father? Do you really not understand whose name is at the helm of the Lopez Group?”

“I only handed over the company because I was preoccupied with your mother’s needs and couldn’t manage it! What’s this nonsense now? You don’t want to return it?” His voice echoed with disbelief, a desperate grasp at the remnants of his authority. “You can’t be so greedy. You already possess Cloudbreak, so why are you still clinging to the Lopez Group?”

The more Oliver spoke, the more he convinced himself of his righteousness, his voice swelling with self-importance. The other shareholders, however, lowered their heads in collective embarrassment, witnessing Oliver’s utter ignorance of the law. Andrew Foster, a voice of reason amidst the chaos, cleared his throat, attempting to interject calmly, “Oliver, since you signed the share transfer agreement, Autumn is, in fact, our company’s majority shareholder.”

“The ‘Lopez’ in Lopez Group is indeed your family’s name, but Autumn is a Lopez as well. We’ve all witnessed her dedication to the company over the years. Is it really necessary to be so harsh?” Andrew’s words hung in the air, a stark contrast to Oliver’s bluster.

Oliver’s sneer was laced with contempt. “Harsh? Or are you and Autumn conspiring against me? Andrew, have I ever wronged you? What’s with the betrayal, bringing Autumn into this? Are you really planning to side with her?” The mere fact that Andrew had arrived with Autumn, and that his assistant was now working for her, sent alarm bells ringing in Oliver’s mind.

Oliver’s words were incendiary, igniting the room with tension. No matter how one looked at it, the Lopez Group was on the upswing, heading in the right direction. The company’s stock was climbing, which meant larger dividends for everyone involved. If they sold their shares now, or if Autumn genuinely did sell the Lopez Group to Cloudbreak, they would shift from being primary stakeholders to secondary ones. They would relinquish all their influence over the company. How could they possibly accept that? The prospect of the Lopez Group being swallowed by Cloudbreak was not a merger of equals; it was a complete takeover.

If that were the case, why hadn’t Autumn merged the two companies sooner? “Autumn, you’re crossing a line!” he bellowed. “You already hold a substantial amount of shares; isn’t that sufficient? Now you’re eyeing ours.” Spurred on by Oliver’s rhetoric, some of the smaller shareholders began to rally against Autumn, voicing their grievances. “We’re not selling our shares! You’ve been a negligent CEO anyway. I’ve never seen anyone abandon their family’s company to work as someone else’s secretary. Since you chose Cloudbreak, you should relinquish your claim on the Lopez Group. Transfer your shares back to your father. We’d all feel far more secure with the old Mr. Lopez at the helm.”

“Exactly! And considering you’re pregnant, you should return home and focus on being a good wife and mother. This corporate world is no place for women!” The words stung, echoing through the room like a bitter wind, but Autumn stood her ground, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and determination.

In the aftermath of the confrontation, the air in the room was thick with tension and disbelief, as Oliver’s world began to unravel before him. Autumn stood firm, her resolve illuminating the darkness that had long overshadowed their relationship. The realization that she was not just a pawn in her father’s game, but a formidable force in her own right, brought her a sense of empowerment she had never known. No longer was she the daughter seeking her father’s approval; she had transformed into a leader ready to claim her space. The words of the shareholders echoed painfully in Oliver’s ears, revealing the fragility of his power and the isolation that came from his arrogance. As he watched Autumn assert her authority, a flicker of fear ignited within him—fear of losing not just the company, but the daughter he had long taken for granted.

For Autumn, this was not merely a battle for control of a company but a profound moment of self-discovery. The years of sacrifice and emotional turmoil had led her to this pivotal juncture, where she could finally sever the toxic ties that bound her to her father’s expectations. She felt a weight lift off her shoulders, realizing that her worth was not tied to the legacy of the Lopez Group but to her own capabilities and aspirations. As she prepared to navigate the tumultuous waters ahead, Autumn understood that finding peace meant embracing her identity beyond her father’s shadow. With newfound clarity, she was ready to chase her own light, forging a path that was uniquely hers, and in doing so, she hoped to inspire others to break free from the chains of their past.