The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 141

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 141**

“Are you genuinely trying to intimidate me?”

The atmosphere crackled with palpable tension as Lydia Lopez and Mars Wright stood face to face, their once vibrant relationship now reduced to a battlefield of sharp words and deep-seated resentment. The fervor that had once set their hearts ablaze lay in ruins, replaced by a bitter animosity that hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Lydia had come to a painful realization: her feelings for Mars had never been the deep love she had convinced herself they were.

Instead, they were rooted in an overwhelming fear of losing him to someone else, particularly to Autumn Lopez, whose very name ignited a seething jealousy within her that felt impossible to quell.

What would it mean for her if Mars truly found redemption, transforming into the devoted family man he had always aspired to be? Would she become nothing more than a pawn in a game she thought she controlled?

The thought of watching Autumn thrive in the warmth of Mars’s newfound affection was a nightmare that gnawed at her insides.

“I’m not here to threaten you, Lydia. I’m simply laying out the facts,” Mars replied, his voice steady, though it quivered with a barely contained frustration that crackled like electricity between them.

Lydia scoffed, her eyes narrowing into slits as she scrutinized him, searching for any sign of weakness. “Do you honestly believe you can just turn your life around at this late stage? Do you think everything will magically resolve just because you’ve decided to cut ties with me?”

“The baby growing inside Autumn is the undeniable proof of your betrayal,” he retorted, his expression hardening as if he were bracing himself for an impending storm.

Lydia locked her gaze onto him, dissecting every flicker of emotion that crossed his face. When she caught a glimpse of panic lurking in his eyes, a slow, victorious smile crept across her lips.

A surge of confidence washed over her, igniting a warmth deep within her chest that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.

She had long suspected Mars was concealing something from her, but this reaction confirmed her worst fears: the child was a tangible connection between them, one that tethered him to her in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

This realization fortified her position, making her feel invincible, as if she held the upper hand in a game she had once feared losing.

“Now that the truth is out in the open, let’s get straight to the point,” she said, her tone shifting to one of calculated sweetness, a veneer of charm that masked her true intentions. “Let’s pretend this little tête-à-tête never took place. You can release Hannah King from her duties, and I’ll step in as your secretary. The Lopez family can assure you that the Lopez Group will be yours in the future.”

“What do you think?”

Mars’s expression darkened, a tempest brewing behind his eyes, the storm of emotions swirling within him threatening to break loose.

He had anticipated straightforward dealings with the Lopez family, but Lydia, who had once been easily swayed, had morphed into a formidable adversary.

He had completely misjudged her.

What he had perceived as naivety was, in fact, a cunning trap that ensnared him, tightening its grip with every passing moment.

As he stood there, feeling cornered and powerless, he realized he had no other option left.

“I need to understand your endgame,” he said, his voice low and strained, like a man on the brink of surrender, the weight of his predicament pressing heavily on his shoulders.

Eventually, Mars capitulated.

He couldn’t afford to lose Autumn—not now, not ever.

Accepting Lydia’s ultimatum was the only viable path forward.

Of course, he recognized this was merely a temporary fix.

The three members of the Lopez family weren’t particularly astute; they likely wouldn’t seize an opportunity even if it was laid out before them.

Navigating this situation would be far less complicated than dealing with Autumn’s emotions, which were a tangled web all their own.

As long as Autumn remained in the dark about the truth, he could manage everything.

A sinister glimmer sparked in Mars’s eyes, and when he glanced back at the Lopez family, a smile crept onto his lips, masking the turmoil swirling beneath the surface.

“What endgame could we possibly have?”

Lydia’s smile was saccharine, almost sickly sweet, a mask for the determination brewing beneath. “The Lopez Group has always belonged to our family. My father merely wishes to reclaim what is rightfully his.”

“Cloudbreak is thriving. A partnership between our two companies would be mutually advantageous.”

“It’s a win-win situation, don’t you think, Mars?”

Mars offered a stiff nod, the familiar thrill of Lydia using his name now feeling more like a noose tightening around his throat, constricting his freedom.

“Fine, let’s proceed that way.”

Mars stated firmly, “You can return to Cloudbreak, but Hannah must remain.”

“That’s my final word. If not, we can both watch everything we’ve built go up in flames.”

Lydia bit her lower lip, frustration simmering just beneath the surface, threatening to boil over.

This Hannah had only just returned, hadn’t she? Was Mars already that smitten with her?

They often say people are drawn to the new, but what was so special about Hannah?

Mars had previously dismissed her so outright; why was she now an indispensable part of his life?

Or was Mars simply a scoundrel who reveled in rekindling old flames, leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake?

“Fine.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify