The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 145

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 145**

A wave of uncertainty washed over Autumn Lopez, a fleeting moment that made her heart quicken in its rhythm. The vibrant flowers that had just arrived were a dazzling array of colors, their brightness a sharp contrast to the subdued atmosphere of her day. As she stood at the sink, the cool water flowed over her fingers, giving her a moment of clarity as she contemplated the simple act of arranging the blooms. It was a task that had always brought her solace, allowing her to reconnect with the familiar cadence of her work. Just then, Mrs. Turner entered, her face a mixture of urgency and concern, shattering the tranquility of the moment.

“Your phone has been ringing off the hook, dear,” she announced, her voice laced with an unmistakable hint of worry.

“Could you please bring it to me?” Autumn asked, her thoughts drifting to the quiet sanctuary of her room where her phone lay charging. She hadn’t expected anyone to reach out on a weekday, but it seemed that one call had managed to pierce through the fabric of her busy life.

“Here you are, ma’am,” Mrs. Turner said, deftly transferring the flowers into Autumn’s hands as she handed over the phone.

Autumn’s heart sank as she glanced at the caller ID. The name displayed was from an assistant in the Executive Office at Cloudbreak Corporation. A rush of emotions surged within her, memories flooding back unbidden. She had never imagined she would relinquish such a treasured position, one that had been a significant part of her identity.

Since her difficult decision to step down, she had received numerous inquiries about her future, each one a reminder of the life she had left behind. Among those reaching out, a young secretary from the Executive Office had been particularly persistent, maintaining an unwavering line of communication. Autumn had promised to assist her in finding a new job when the time was right, but now, the implications of her resignation loomed large.

Now, the entire Cloudbreak team knew that her resignation was nearing its finalization, while only Mars Wright, the company president, remained blissfully unaware, still under the impression that she was merely on a temporary leave to prepare for motherhood.

When she answered the call, she was met with a voice tinged with panic. “Secretary Autumn! You have to help me!”

A knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. “What’s going on?” she inquired, curiosity piqued and dread beginning to seep into her consciousness.

The assistant rushed through her explanation, revealing that both Hannah King and Lydia Lopez had started working at Cloudbreak that very day. The tension between the two was palpable, and it seemed their animosity had erupted almost immediately.

Hannah, emboldened by her newfound status as Mars’s favorite, had wasted no time in bombarding Lydia with an overwhelming amount of work. Lydia, still recovering from an injury, had protested her inability to handle the heavy lifting, but Hannah’s response had been nothing short of explosive.

“If you have such a princess complex, maybe you shouldn’t even be here! Just go back home where you belong!” Hannah had shouted, her voice echoing through the office, a cruel taunt that struck Lydia like a slap.

The argument escalated rapidly, culminating in a moment of heated emotion when Lydia slapped Hannah, a move that had not gone unnoticed by Mars. Autumn could only imagine the chaos that ensued as Mars stormed in, his anger directed at Lydia, threatening her with termination.

“Now Lydia is sobbing outside the Executive Office, Hannah is crying in the president’s office, and the entire floor is on the verge of a meltdown. Secretary Autumn, please, you must do something!”

The assistant’s desperation resonated deeply within her. Autumn had not anticipated that the combination of these two women would create such a volatile situation. She leaned back into the plush cushions of her chair, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “I would love to help, but since I’ve already resigned and the process is nearly finalized, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to intervene.”

“You should speak to Mars,” the assistant suggested, their voice trembling with urgency.

“Mars is the president of the company. Isn’t this something he should be managing?” Autumn countered, her tone calm yet firm, trying to maintain her resolve.

The assistant’s voice quivered, on the brink of tears. “But Mr. Wright, he…”

Autumn could sense the unspoken truth behind their words. This entire debacle stemmed from Mars’s complicated love life. His inability to manage the delicate balance between the two women was glaringly evident. How could he possibly handle the fallout from this?

His favoritism would only exacerbate the situation, pushing one of them further into emotional turmoil.

“My hands are tied,” Autumn said, a faint smile playing on her lips as she absentmindedly stroked her growing belly. “Why don’t you just ignore them?”

“Just pretend they don’t exist and focus on your own work,” she added, her tone light but serious, trying to lighten the mood.

The assistant let out a frustrated sigh. “We want to, but we have a sponsor visiting today.”

“You used to manage all these arrangements, Secretary Autumn. After your resignation, the responsibility fell to the new chief secretary, but it seems neither of them informed Mr. Wright.”

“We tried to remind them, but the new secretary, Ms. King, insisted that sponsors should just sponsor and that there was no need for any extra fuss. She said their visit was merely a formality and that nothing would go wrong, so we should handle it ourselves,” the assistant explained, their voice thick with anger. “We’re just employees. How are we supposed to host a sponsor on behalf of Mr. Wright? Besides, this was a sponsor you brought in as a personal favor, Secretary Autumn. When they discovered you weren’t at the company anymore, they delayed their sponsorship multiple times.”

“If Mr. Wright had only hosted them properly and shown some sincerity, securing this sponsorship would have been straightforward.”

“But now he’s completely ignoring it, and we’re in no position to push him.”

“Secretary Autumn, please, I’m begging you. You watched Cloudbreak grow from its inception. Are you really going to stand by and let the company falter?”

Autumn felt the weight of the assistant’s plea settle heavily on her shoulders. She had personally negotiated many of Cloudbreak’s significant deals. Her departure wouldn’t just throw the company into disarray; it would lead many clients to reconsider their partnerships.

This would inevitably result in a decline in Cloudbreak’s performance. If Mars had taken these details into account and prepared for her exit, the situation might not have spiraled into such chaos.

While Cloudbreak might not reach new heights, it certainly wouldn’t collapse overnight. But Mars was both oblivious and self-destructive.

First, he had allowed Lydia to oversleep and miss the Mistveil Group project. Now, he was neglecting a major sponsor for Hannah’s sake.

As she settled into the car, she directed the driver straight to the Cloudbreak Corporation building.

The morning rush hour had subsided, leaving the roads relatively clear.

By the time she arrived downstairs, only thirty minutes had elapsed since the phone call.

The assistant had mentioned they would come down to meet her, but after several unanswered calls, Autumn found herself waiting in the lobby.

And just as fate would have it, she spotted Hannah King strutting out of the elevator, her confidence radiating as she swayed her hips.

“Autumn?” Hannah’s voice dripped with skepticism, her brows knitting together in confusion. “What are you doing here?”

She couldn’t believe that even with a new man in her life, Autumn was still attempting to compete for Mars’s attention. Her tone sharpened, laced with disdain. “What’s this? You’re pregnant and still running around? Are you here to check up on him? Or do you think the company can’t function without you?”

—

In the quiet aftermath of the chaotic morning, Autumn Lopez found herself standing at a crossroads, a place where her past and present collided. The vibrant blooms she had once arranged now felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the tumultuous emotions swirling within her. As she faced Hannah King, the weight of her decisions pressed heavily on her heart. The confrontation was more than just a clash of personalities; it was a reflection of her own struggles with identity and purpose.

In this moment, Autumn realized that her journey was not solely about stepping away from Cloudbreak but about reclaiming her own narrative amidst the noise of others. The tension in the air echoed her internal conflict, a reminder that her choices, though painful, had led her to this pivotal moment of self-discovery and empowerment.

As Autumn stood her ground against Hannah’s sharp words, she felt a surge of clarity wash over her. This was not just about defending her past role; it was about embracing her future. The chaos at Cloudbreak, once a source of anxiety, now presented an opportunity for her to redefine her relationship with the company and with herself. With each passing moment, she understood that finding peace was not about avoiding conflict but confronting it head-on.

The journey ahead would be fraught with challenges, but Autumn was ready to navigate them with grace and strength. As she took a deep breath and prepared to engage with the unfolding drama, she felt a flicker of hope ignite within her—a reminder that, despite the turbulence, she was capable of chasing light and finding her own peace.

—

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

In the next chapter, readers can expect a dramatic confrontation between Autumn and Hannah that promises to unravel the already tense dynamics at Cloudbreak. With emotions running high and the stakes even higher, Autumn’s unexpected return to the office will force her to confront not only Hannah’s disdain but also the chaos that has ensued in her absence. As the two women face off, the underlying tensions between them, fueled by jealousy and ambition, will come to a head, leaving Autumn questioning her decision to intervene at all. Will she be able to maintain her composure, or will the weight of her past at Cloudbreak pull her back into the fray?

Moreover, Autumn’s encounter with Mars Wright looms large on the horizon. As she navigates the fallout of the office drama, the complexities of their relationship will be put to the test. With Mars still oblivious to the turmoil brewing among his team, Autumn must decide whether to step in and help him manage the fallout or to keep her distance and let him face the consequences of his inaction. The chapter will delve deeper into the emotional stakes involved, exploring themes of loyalty, ambition, and the struggle for peace amidst chaos. Readers will be left on the edge of their seats, wondering if Autumn can regain her footing in a world she thought she had left behind or if her return will only serve to ignite further conflict.