The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 146

**Chapter 146**

Autumn stood before Hannah King, unfazed by the venomous words that poured from her mouth like a bitter poison. The disdain that Hannah harbored for her was no secret; it had been evident from their very first encounter. Each time their paths crossed, Hannah unleashed a torrent of passive-aggressive jabs, each one sharper and more cutting than the last.

Now, as the tangled web of relationships surrounding Mars Wright unraveled, Hannah found herself in the uncomfortable position of being the other woman, while Autumn held the esteemed title of Mars’s legitimate wife. For someone as proud and self-important as Hannah, this reality must have been a bitter pill to swallow.

But did it truly matter to Autumn?

A slight, almost enigmatic smile tugged at the corners of Autumn’s lips, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the palpable hostility radiating from Hannah. To Autumn, Hannah was nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard, a necessary piece in the intricate game she was playing during the divorce cooling-off period.

She needed Hannah and Mars to engage in a fierce battle of emotions, ensuring that she could navigate these final days unscathed. Patience was her ally, and Autumn was more than willing to wield it against Hannah.

“What are you smiling at?” Hannah snapped, her eye twitching with irritation. Confusion flickered across her face as she witnessed Autumn’s unshakable composure in the wake of her biting remark.

Hannah instinctively glanced over her shoulder, a wave of relief washing over her when she realized Mars was not lurking nearby. But what could possibly be the source of Autumn’s smugness?

Her frown deepened as she scrutinized Autumn with renewed intensity, the gears of her mind whirring. In that moment, she recognized the stark transformation in the woman standing before her. During their previous encounter at the villa, her thoughts had been clouded with betrayal, fixated on how Autumn could have possibly betrayed Mars. She had failed to observe Autumn’s state of being, but now it was undeniable.

Autumn exuded an aura of sophistication and poise that was impossible to ignore. The remnants of naivety and immaturity had vanished, replaced by an unyielding confidence that suggested she was acutely aware of her power in this situation.

Ignoring Hannah’s question, Autumn’s mind was focused elsewhere. She hadn’t come here to engage in a petty argument; that energy was better spent on finding a moment of peace and rest.

Being dismissed by Autumn only fueled Hannah’s rage, her cheeks flushing crimson before draining of color.

“Autumn, what’s that supposed to mean?” Hannah’s voice trembled with frustration as her hands clenched into fists at her sides, a physical manifestation of her rising anger.

“Are you looking down on me?”

While her encounters with Mars had brought her fleeting pleasure, standing before Autumn made her feel like a mere shadow in the life of the man she desired. The realization ignited a fierce fire in her belly, a direct assault on her pride.

But then a thought struck her: Autumn had cheated too. Her hands weren’t clean either. What gave her the right to exude such calmness in Hannah’s presence? Did she truly believe Hannah wouldn’t spill the beans to Mars?

“Why should I respect you?”

Autumn met Hannah’s gaze with an air of tranquility, her voice steady and composed. “Professionally speaking, Cloudbreak Corporation is my husband’s domain, and I hold shares in it. You’re merely a chief secretary, occupying half of a position that was once mine. Do you really believe you’ve earned my respect?”

“And on a personal level, you’ve always come after me over some man for reasons I can’t fathom. We’ve never been on good terms, so why would I greet you with anything other than indifference?”

Hannah’s fury was palpable, her nose twitching in indignation. Yet, each word Autumn spoke rang true, leaving Hannah at a loss for a response.

“Isn’t this all your sister’s fault? If Lydia Lopez hadn’t been so desperate to work at Cloudbreak, the chief secretary position wouldn’t have been split in two.”

Recognizing the precariousness of her argument, Hannah resorted to unfounded accusations, grasping at straws.

Autumn rolled her eyes, dismissing the idea of wasting more breath on Hannah. She placed a hand on her stomach, ready to retreat to the waiting area for a moment of solace, when Hannah marched toward her, blocking her path.

“Don’t get too cocky, Autumn. What do you think Mars will do when he discovers you cheated?”

Autumn turned to Hannah, a smirk playing on her lips, amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Then why haven’t you told him?”

Hannah froze, caught off guard by the unexpected challenge.

“You think I lack the courage?”

In truth, she did. But admitting that was out of the question.

Autumn saw right through her bravado, and with a derisive snort, she taunted, “Go ahead, spill the beans if you wish. Let’s see if Mars takes me out first, or if Owen Bennett comes after you.”

The weight of Autumn’s words hung in the air like a dark cloud, and Hannah shuddered, her gaze dropping as silence enveloped them.

The Bennett Group, the formidable force behind Owen Bennett, was a source of genuine fear for Hannah.

Her motives for approaching Lydia had always been self-serving.

If she had truly wanted to, she could have easily informed Lydia about Autumn’s affair.

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