The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 148

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace – Chapter 148**

The atmosphere crackled with an electric intensity, a chaotic energy that seemed to swirl around the Cloudbreak Corporation like a brewing storm. What had started as an ordinary day quickly spiraled into a maelstrom of anger and confrontation, throwing Lydia Lopez and Mars Wright into the heart of a tumultuous conflict with Hannah King. Their intertwined fates, marked by a history of shared experiences, now faced a critical test as old wounds reopened in the heat of the moment.

“You bitch! You actually scratched my face? I swear, I’ll kill you!” Lydia’s voice erupted from her lips like a fierce battle cry, filled with raw emotion as she charged forward, her body taut with rage. At that very moment, Mars, driven by instinct and a desire to protect, lunged at Hannah, his heart pounding in sync with the chaos unfolding before him.

This chaotic tableau greeted the sponsors as they approached the entrance of Cloudbreak Corporation—the CEO entangled in a brawl with two of his secretaries, right at the threshold of professionalism. It was a surreal scene, one that would be etched in their memories forever.

In the blink of an eye, the dynamics shifted; the two women, once united in their fury against each other, suddenly turned their anger towards Mars, transforming the skirmish into a bizarre spectacle that left the onlookers in shock. The sponsors stood frozen, their mouths agape in disbelief, witnessing a scene they had never anticipated in their wildest dreams.

“What are you all just standing there for?!” Autumn Lopez, Lydia’s sister, had been observing the unfolding drama with a mix of amusement and horror. The arrival of the sponsors jolted her into action. She barked orders, her voice rising above the chaos, demanding someone intervene and separate Mars from the two women before the situation escalated further.

Lydia and Hannah were lost in a whirlwind of rage, their fists flying and feet kicking with reckless abandon. As they were pulled apart, their bodies writhed against the grip of onlookers, dresses hiked up in the chaos, revealing the absurdity of the moment. Many spectators turned away, embarrassment etched across their faces, only to sneak glances at the unfolding drama moments later.

“That’s enough!” Autumn’s voice cut through the tumult like a knife, authoritative and commanding. She strode forward, her baby bump prominent and undeniable, a striking figure amidst the chaos. With boldness that shocked everyone present, she seized the opportunity to settle personal scores. She marched up to each of the three combatants, delivering sharp slaps across their cheeks—a striking reminder of their folly.

The fighting ceased abruptly, and Lydia and Hannah turned their fury toward Autumn, their eyes blazing with indignation.

“Why did you hit me?” Hannah exclaimed, disbelief coloring her tone, her shock evident.

“Autumn, are you out of your mind?” Lydia echoed, their voices a cacophony of outrage, each word resonating with disbelief.

Unfazed, Autumn met their glares with a steely resolve. “You’re secretaries for this company, and here you are brawling in the lobby. Do you honestly believe this reflects well on you?” Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their implications.

At that moment, the reality of their actions sank in. Lydia and Hannah became acutely aware of the crowd that had gathered, their faces freezing as the realization of their humiliating display washed over them.

“Aaaah!” Lydia’s panic set in, her hands flying to her face. “My face! Is it okay? Did she scratch it?” The desperation in her voice was palpable, a plea that cut through the tension.

“Get me to a hospital! The doctor warned me that my face can’t take any more damage or it’ll scar! Mars, we need to go now!” Despite her simmering anger toward him, Lydia instinctively turned to Mars for help in this moment of crisis.

Mars, too, was eager to escape the embarrassment of the scene. He thought to himself that as the CEO of Cloudbreak, if he could make a swift exit, someone else would surely handle the fallout. He could reappear later, confident that no one would dare mention this mortifying incident again.

“I—” Mars began, but Autumn cut him off with a firm tone.

“You can’t go.”

The tension in the air was palpable, and for the first time, Mars hesitated. He felt a flicker of respect for Autumn, recognizing her determination.

“Autumn, your sister really can’t afford another injury to her face. I was there when the doctor warned her. Do you want her to be disfigured forever? I promise, this is the last time I’ll ask for anything like this,” he reasoned, his voice softening as he appealed to her sense of responsibility.

“I’ll take her to the hospital this time, and that’s it. I won’t get involved again,” Autumn replied, her expression unwavering, a steadfast resolve in her eyes.

This slight shift in Mars’s attitude brought no joy to Autumn. “The sponsors are here. They made a special trip, and as CEO, you cannot be absent. It’s unprofessional and disrespectful.”

“Besides, it’s just a trip to the hospital. Anyone can take her. It doesn’t have to be you,” she added, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Lydia’s competitive spirit ignited at this moment. She didn’t care about the sponsors; all she wanted was to assert her importance to Mars and infuriate Autumn. The thought of how smoothly things had been going for Autumn lately fueled her desire to disrupt her sister’s plans.

Grabbing Mars’s arm, she let her vulnerability spill forth in front of the crowd. “Mars, please, just take me to the hospital. My face really hurts! If I’m disfigured, how will I ever get married?”

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