The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 138

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 138**

Mrs. Lopez stood there, her body paralyzed, her eyes wide with disbelief, as if she were caught in the throes of a surreal nightmare. The shock coursed through her like ice water, each heartbeat amplifying the heavy fog of disbelief that enveloped her. How could Autumn, her beloved daughter, dare to unleash such words? Was it the weight of her pregnancy that had emboldened her to shatter the silence that had long enveloped their home?

As memories flooded her mind, Mrs. Lopez recalled Autumn as the dutiful daughter, the one who had always bent over backward in her attempts to maintain peace in their often-chaotic household. She had convinced herself that Autumn was merely a passive figure, a shadow in the family dynamic, incapable of stirring the waters of discontent. Mrs. Lopez had believed she held all the power, blind to the simmering resentment that had been brewing beneath the surface for years.

But now, as Autumn’s voice rose in defiance, Mrs. Lopez felt as if the very ground beneath her was shifting. The realization struck her like a thunderclap: she had grossly underestimated her daughter. This was no mere rebellion; it was a carefully orchestrated unveiling of years of hidden pain and resentment. The mask of compliance that Autumn had worn for so long had shattered, revealing raw emotions that had festered in silence.

“Autumn, how dare you speak to me like that! Do you even comprehend the gravity of your words? Cursing your own sister—have you lost your mind? Is this some sort of madness brought on by your pregnancy?” Mrs. Lopez’s voice quivered, a mixture of anger and disbelief spilling forth like a dam breaking under pressure.

Autumn, no longer willing to wear the cloak of the obedient daughter, stood her ground, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. “You think that’s vicious?” she shot back, her voice steady, yet laced with an edge that cut through the tension in the room. “What you’ve done to me over the years is far worse than mere words. This is just the beginning.”

She allowed her words to linger, the implications heavy in the air. For those who felt guilt, her statements struck like a hammer, resonating with an undeniable truth. Mars Wright, standing nearby, exchanged a glance with Lydia Lopez, both paralyzed by the fear that Autumn was on the verge of unveiling a devastating truth that could shatter their already fragile family ties.

As Mars stood there, his mind raced with tumultuous thoughts. The weight of his own neglect pressed down on him, a dawning realization that he had taken Autumn for granted. He had harbored resentment over her decision to stop dressing up after her pregnancy, her once-vibrant spirit now dulled. Each business dinner they attended together served as a stark reminder of the woman she used to be, and that realization gnawed at him.

Deep down, he knew Autumn was not the type to manipulate her way through life; yet, the insidious thought that she hadn’t achieved her success solely through talent had crept into his mind, twisting it into a justification for his actions. This misguided belief had led him astray, into the arms of Lydia, a fleeting flame from his past that reignited a spark of longing. Autumn had become the woman he settled for, the one who bore his name, but deep down, he recognized she was never the one he truly loved.

Since Autumn had moved out, a sense of unease had settled over him like a heavy shroud. The warmth of home was gone, replaced by an unsettling emptiness. No longer did he return to find her waiting with a comforting smile or a bowl of soup to soothe his weary soul. The little messages that once brightened his day had vanished, leaving him feeling adrift, like a kite severed from its string.

Regret gnawed at him, a bitter taste he couldn’t shake. He had planned to confess to Autumn, to mend the rift between them, but the chaos surrounding Hannah King had derailed his intentions. What had once felt exhilarating now loomed over him like an ominous cloud, filling him with dread as clarity washed over him. He had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed.

One lie spiraled into a tangled web of deceit, and the thought of Autumn discovering the truth sent chills coursing through him. “Autumn, do you… know something?” he stammered, his voice quivering with vulnerability.

In that moment, he felt like a man standing before the firing squad, the cold barrel of a gun aimed squarely at his heart. Yet, a flicker of hope remained, a fragile belief that perhaps he could still salvage something from the wreckage.

Autumn’s gaze met his, a spark of satisfaction igniting within her. If only she weren’t so focused on her own plan, she might have relished the moment of watching him squirm. He had reveled in his manipulations before, and now he was attempting this pathetic performance? Did he truly think he was some kind of award-winning actor vying for an Oscar?

“Should I know something?” she replied, her tone deliberately vague, her head tilting slightly as she feigned nonchalance. “Mars, did you do something to hurt me?”

His heart raced, panic coursing through him like electricity. He shook his head vigorously, a bobblehead caught in a tempest. “How could I? Autumn, you know me! Why would I ever do anything to hurt you?”

As Autumn surveyed her family, she noted their reactions. Her father’s face had drained of color, a ghostly pallor settling over his features. Her mother’s expression was a storm, dark and brooding, while Lydia sat crumpled, her sobs dry and devoid of tears.

In that moment, Autumn felt an overwhelming sense of boredom wash over her. She had been mistaken; there was no satisfaction in witnessing their unraveling. None of them would ever truly feel remorse for their actions.

“You’d better hope so,” she replied, her voice flat, stripped of emotion.

Not wanting to linger any longer, she pulled out her phone, her resolve hardening. “I’ll call 911 for you. Whoever needs to go to the hospital can go. In the future, I hope you manage your own messes without dragging a pregnant woman into it.”

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