The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 139

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

The atmosphere crackled with an unspoken tension as Autumn steeled herself to face Mars about the widening chasm that had developed between them. It was a confrontation she had dreaded for what felt like an eternity, yet it was a necessary storm brewing on the horizon of their once-cherished relationship.

Standing before him, she felt the weight of her emotions press down on her like a suffocating cloak. *If only he could grasp the shadows of our past that linger over us, perhaps we could navigate this chaos together,* she thought, her heart pounding in her chest. Gathering her courage, she took a deep breath and prepared to voice her feelings, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sadness.

“Why do you keep pretending everything is fine?” she asked, her tone steady but tinged with an underlying tremor that betrayed her inner turmoil. “You’ve made it painfully clear where your priorities lie, and it’s not with me.”

Mars seemed taken aback by her words, his surprise momentarily flickering across his face before he masked it with a bright, cheerful smile, his eyes sparkling with feigned excitement. “What are you talking about? I’ve got a surprise birthday celebration planned for you!” He leaned in closer, reaching out to grasp her hand, an instinctive attempt to bridge the emotional gulf that had formed between them.

But Autumn recoiled, pulling her hand back as if his touch burned her. She held his gaze, her silence a deafening roar filled with unspoken words that hung heavily between them like a thick fog.

“Oh? Are you really surprised?” she shot back, her tone sharp and biting. “You’ve been so wrapped up in Lydia that I hardly expect you to remember my birthday.”

“Come on, we used to celebrate each other’s birthdays with so much joy! It’s just that these past few years have been a whirlwind,” he chuckled, trying to deflect the gravity of the moment with a light-hearted demeanor, but Autumn could see right through it.

Internally, Autumn scoffed at his words. *Busy? Or just too busy with Lydia?* She could feel the bitterness rising within her like a tide. *You’ve spent every birthday with her, leaving me alone with a cake that felt more like a mockery than a celebration.*

“What a classic scumbag,” she thought bitterly, her heart heavy with disappointment and resentment.

“This year, I promise I’ll make it special,” he continued, blissfully unaware of the storm raging inside her, as if his words could erase the years of neglect.

Autumn managed to maintain a pleasant facade, masking her true feelings with a practiced smile. *Maybe it’s easier this way,* she mused, *to keep him in the dark while I plot my escape.* After all, he remained blissfully ignorant of the emotional turmoil she was grappling with.

“Really?” he asked, his excitement palpable as he leaned in for an embrace that felt both familiar and unwelcome.

“Stop!” Autumn’s voice sliced through the air like a knife as she firmly pushed him away, establishing a boundary that had long needed to be drawn.

Mars’s expression fell, confusion and hurt flickering across his features as if he had been struck. “Autumn, you’ve been so distant. Is this still about how I encouraged you to take care of Lydia?”

“I’ve already told you—” she began, raising a finger to silence him, a gesture that was both dismissive and resolute. “Let’s not rehash the past. It’s futile.”

A lump formed in Mars’s throat, his words caught in a chokehold of vulnerability. He had envisioned this conversation going differently, but the reality was stark and painful.

*She’s choosing to ignore the love we once had,* he thought, desperately clinging to the hope that she still cared. *How could she not?*

“Autumn…” he said, his gaze piercing through her, searching for answers, but she remained an enigma, her heart a fortress he could not penetrate.

“I’ll plan something special for your birthday. You just need to show up and look radiant,” she said, a small, knowing smile dancing on her lips, masking the turmoil beneath.

Mars beamed at her, momentarily forgetting the tension that hung thick between them. “You will? Thank you, my darling wife!” he exclaimed, his voice dripping with gratitude, oblivious to the storm brewing in her heart.

“But you’re pregnant now,” she reminded him gently, her tone softening. “You should be focusing on yourself and the baby. I’ll handle the party arrangements.”

A flicker of relief washed over Autumn, feeling as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders, if only for a moment.

“Okay,” he agreed, but internally, she was conflicted. *Aren’t we on the brink of divorce?*

“Why don’t you move back home?” Mars suggested, his tone earnest, yet Autumn could sense an underlying desperation in his voice.

“If people find out we’re living apart, they’ll assume we’re getting a divorce,” she replied, her smile unwavering, though her heart raced with the truth of their situation.

*Isn’t that what we’re heading towards?*

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he replied, dismissing her concerns with a wave of his hand.

“People see you with Lydia and don’t jump to conclusions. I’ve just moved out for work. Their opinions don’t dictate my life,” she countered, her voice steady. “I’m perfectly content where I am.”

A flicker of guilt crossed Mars’s face at the mention of Lydia, his tone softening. “Then I’ll move in with you,” he declared resolutely. “You’re pregnant, and as your husband, it’s my duty to be by your side.”

*Duty?* she thought, her heart heavy with skepticism. *What about love?*

“Lydia will start coming over all the time if you move in. I don’t want to entangle myself with the Lopez family anymore,” she replied, her voice firm, and yet a part of her felt the weight of her words.

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