The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 129

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

**Chapter 129**

Lydia stood there, her body rigid, as if time itself had come to a standstill. Her heart was pounding in her chest, each beat echoing the disbelief that coursed through her veins.

“What did you just say?”

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, as if they were a thick fog obscuring her thoughts. Another family? Autumn had another family?

The sheer absurdity of the notion struck Lydia like a lightning bolt, illuminating her mind with the glaring neon sign of “unbelievable.” Yet, in a strange twist of clarity, she forced a smile, a carefully crafted mask of composure. “Oh, I see! You must have seen Autumn living alone somewhere, right?”

“Don’t worry,” Hannah shot back, her voice sharp and quick, “they just had a fight, so she moved out for a bit. Another family? That’s impossible.”

The very suggestion felt ludicrous to Lydia. Autumn had always been fiercely devoted to Mars, her love for him so profound that she was undergoing the arduous process of IVF to bear his child.

How could someone as steadfastly loyal as Autumn even entertain the idea of betraying Mars, let alone starting a second family?

That thought was simply preposterous.

Lydia’s vehement dismissal only served to exacerbate the gnawing doubts that had taken root in Hannah’s mind since she had left the Bennett villa.

As Hannah mulled over the situation, it began to seem increasingly bizarre. Instead of returning to her studio, she had impulsively reached out to an old classmate, desperate for answers.

With her characteristic charm, she managed to secure the address of Mars’ villa, driving there with a sense of purpose that left no room for hesitation.

Her initial plan had been straightforward: to gauge Mars’ feelings and extract the truth from him without revealing her own motives.

However, she had never anticipated encountering Lydia first.

To be honest, Hannah had always harbored a deeper disdain for Lydia than for Autumn.

They say it takes a woman to truly understand another woman, and during their college days, Hannah had been acutely aware of the special attention Mars lavished upon Lydia.

At first, she thought it was merely a kindness stemming from his infatuation with Lydia, the elder sister.

But after witnessing their interactions on multiple occasions, the truth became glaringly evident: Mars was genuinely in love with Lydia.

Hannah felt no surprise when Mars and Lydia never ended up together.

A woman like Lydia was ambitious, adept at playing the innocent card.

She was more than Mars could handle.

Mars had his own dreams and aspirations, while Lydia was like a delicate rose, requiring nurturing and care. She could illuminate a man’s life, but she couldn’t support his career.

Thus, it was no wonder that Mars chose Autumn, a girlfriend who excelled in every conceivable way.

Hannah begrudgingly admitted that she couldn’t measure up to Autumn in many areas, yet she refused to accept that she couldn’t provide for Mars everything that Autumn did.

It simply didn’t make sense to her. If Mars didn’t even have genuine feelings for Autumn and was merely choosing a partner for her potential benefits, why not choose her instead?

Hannah harbored a unique resentment for each sister, but after years of wrestling with her own struggles abroad, she had mastered the art of masking her emotions.

“But I really did see her at someone else’s house. The housekeeper there even called her ‘Mrs.'”

Hannah intentionally withheld the detail that Autumn was staying at Owen Bennett’s house.

She had her own selfish motives.

If the Lopez family discovered that Autumn had entangled herself with a man like Owen Bennett, they would likely join forces with Autumn to conceal the truth.

Moreover, witnessing Lydia’s ease of movement in and out of Mars’ villa suggested that their relationship was far more intricate than it appeared.

To achieve her ambitions, she needed to devise a careful strategy, and these two sisters were the perfect pawns in her game.

Perhaps she could even kill two birds with one stone.

When all was said and done, not only would Mars be hers, but Owen would be as well.

“What are you talking about?” Lydia shot back, disbelief etched across her features. “How could Autumn do something like that? She’s pregnant with Mars’ baby!”

Lydia had always viewed Autumn as a naive, gullible fool.

The Lopez family had exploited her for years, and Autumn had simply accepted it without question.

Lydia herself had been entangled with Mars for what felt like an eternity, and Autumn had never suspected a thing.

The idea that someone like Autumn could secretly maintain a second family behind everyone’s back was unfathomable.

I could amass a fortune without lifting a finger. I could rebrand myself however I wish. I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a top-tier man to marry. When he sees how much wealth I’m bringing into the marriage, he’ll spoil me even more. My money will generate even more money, and my dreams will finally materialize!

“They’re not divorced.”

Lydia made her choice, her gaze snapping up to meet Hannah’s.

“I know you like Mars, but we can’t just blurt this out.”

Hannah’s eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into her demeanor. “Why not?”

Lydia steeled herself, swinging the door open and pulling Hannah inside.

Hannah gasped at the sight of the chaos within. “What… what happened here?”

“Shh,” Lydia whispered urgently. “Listen.”

Only then did Hannah realize that even in his drunken stupor, Mars was mumbling Autumn’s name over and over again.

A wave of jealousy surged through her.

Autumn had already betrayed him, and yet he was still consumed by thoughts of her. What kind of spell did that wretched Autumn have over him?

“Mars’ feelings for my sister run deeper than anyone realizes. Revealing the truth to him right now would shatter him, don’t you think? Besides, your word alone won’t suffice as proof. We need to play the long game.”

“Hannah, are you willing to collaborate with me?”

**Conclusion**

In the tumultuous aftermath of revelation, Lydia stood at a crossroads, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. The notion that Autumn could betray Mars felt like a dagger to her own heart, yet the intoxicating allure of power and wealth began to cloud her judgment. As she contemplated the potential consequences of their actions, the weight of her sister’s love and loyalty loomed large. The fragile threads of family ties intertwined with ambition, forcing Lydia to choose between loyalty to Autumn and her desire to seize the life she had always dreamed of. In that moment, she recognized the precarious balance of love and ambition, and how easily one could tip the scales in favor of the other.

Hannah, too, felt the pull of ambition as she stood beside Lydia, her own feelings for Mars surfacing amidst the chaos. The potential for a partnership with Lydia both excited and terrified her; it could lead to the fulfillment of her desires or plunge her deeper into a web of deceit. As they plotted together, a shared understanding formed between them, binding them in a fragile alliance fueled by jealousy and ambition. Yet, beneath the surface, the emotional currents ran deeper than either could comprehend. For in their pursuit of power and love, they were not just chasing light; they were also chasing shadows, unaware of the darkness that might consume them both.

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**

As the tension between Lydia and Hannah escalates, readers can anticipate a gripping exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and ambition. With Lydia’s newfound determination to manipulate the situation to her advantage, the stakes are higher than ever. Will she be able to convince Hannah to join her in this precarious game, or will their alliance crumble under the weight of their conflicting desires? The next chapter promises to delve deeper into their motivations and the lengths they are willing to go to secure their futures, setting the stage for a showdown that could alter the course of their lives forever.

Moreover, as Lydia grapples with her conflicting emotions towards Autumn and Mars, the narrative will likely unveil hidden truths that challenge her perceptions of loyalty and love. Readers can expect intense confrontations and revelations that will not only test the sisters’ bond but also force them to confront their own insecurities and ambitions. With Mars still reeling from the revelation of Autumn’s supposed betrayal, will he remain oblivious to the machinations at play around him, or will he begin to piece together the truth? The next chapter is sure to be a whirlwind of intrigue, as secrets unravel and characters are pushed to their limits, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to discover what lies ahead.