The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 155

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

Outside the sterile confines of the hospital room, an oppressive tension hung in the air, thick enough to cut. The doctors and nurses exchanged furtive, anxious glances, their faces etched with concern. They wanted to convey the harsh realities of the situation, to provide clarity, but it was painfully evident that no one was in a receptive mood. The weight of unspoken words lingered, creating an atmosphere charged with desperation and fear.

Just as the sound of Lydia’s escalating tantrum pierced the air, Oliver Lopez burst into the room with a sense of urgency. His heart raced, a mixture of worry and frustration bubbling within him. Moments earlier, Mars Wright had been engaged in a futile attempt to garner praise from Autumn Lopez, strutting around as if he were the hero of the day, basking in the glow of his own misguided righteousness.

Now, with a swift motion, he shoved Autumn back inside the room, a clear indication that, despite his pretensions, Lydia’s well-being always held a more profound significance for him. It was a realization that struck Oliver with a painful clarity; he had been deluding himself, perhaps even attempting to placate Autumn with empty reassurances.

Autumn, despite having long since distanced herself from these people, felt a familiar pang of heartache tightening around her chest. She couldn’t help but reflect, *Sometimes, I really don’t understand what I did to deserve this.* She considered herself obedient and sensible, the kind of person others often deemed a model of excellence. Yet, her own family seemed to wield their criticisms like daggers, aiming for her heart.

*Was it possible that their personalities were simply at odds?* she wondered. *Maybe fate had cruelly intertwined their lives, locking them in a relentless struggle that felt more like a punishment than a familial bond.*

With a deep breath, Autumn tried to steady her racing heart, determined not to let the tempest of her emotions disturb the fragile life growing within her. She had been a fool in the past, clinging to the hope that these heartless individuals could change. But now, she was resolved to rise above it all. *This time, I will emerge victorious.*

“Lydia, please, can you just cooperate?” Mars’s voice, though not raised, held an edge of desperation. The moment he spoke, Lydia, in an uncharacteristic show of respect, halted her wailing.

“Mars… I don’t want to! Just look at my face! My sister only needs to give a tiny piece of skin—why can’t she just do that?” Her voice was a mixture of anger and despair, each word laced with a haunting urgency.

Mars’s lips pressed into a thin line, his features contorting with strain as he struggled to maintain his composure. Autumn stepped out from behind him, her heart sinking as she took in Lydia’s appearance. It was as if all the vitality had been siphoned from her face, leaving behind a hollow shell. The aftermath of Hannah’s attack had transformed Lydia’s visage into something grotesque, the wounds that had never truly healed now appearing even more horrific.

*Could a skin graft ever restore her to what she once was?* Autumn pondered, her heart heavy with sympathy and dread.

“Aaaah! If I have to live with this scarred face or wear some stranger’s skin, I’d rather just die!” Lydia’s voice rose to a fever pitch, a chilling blend of desperation and fury. “My life ended the moment my face was ruined! Just let me die!”

“Lydia, stop this!” Oliver exclaimed, rushing forward to grasp her flailing arms, his grip firm yet gentle.

Mrs. Lopez stood by, a silent figure of heartbreak, tears streaming down her face, embodying the agony of a mother who felt utterly powerless to help her daughter. The sight was so wrenching that even Mars found it unbearable; he cast a glance toward Autumn, torn between hope and guilt.

He wished that witnessing Lydia’s suffering would soften Autumn’s heart, yet he feared the repercussions if it did. This was their baby, the child they had longed for, and if anything happened due to this turmoil, what could he possibly do to make it right?

“Dad, I’m begging you! It’s better to let me die than to force me to live like this!” Lydia’s voice trembled with raw emotion, desperation etched on her features.

“Can you even imagine wearing someone else’s skin on your face? Just the thought sends shivers down my spine,” she continued, her eyes wide with horror.

“Please, I’m really begging you, save me…” Lydia’s voice cracked, her tears flowing freely. “My sister just needs to give a little piece of skin. Why bring in someone else? I don’t want any of it… I really don’t…”

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