The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 167

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma – Chapter 167**

The memories of Lydia danced chaotically in Mars’s mind, relentless and vivid, like a storm that refused to settle. He slammed his foot down on the accelerator, the engine roaring in response, mirroring the tumult within him. How could he have allowed himself to be drawn into a web of intimacy with someone like her? The question gnawed at him, each recollection a dagger twisting deeper into his heart.

The burden of his choices pressed down on him like a mountain, especially the grim reality that a child now tethered him to Lydia. It felt as though a hammer was relentlessly striking his skull, each blow resonating with regret and a profound sense of loss.

Why had he ever consented to swap the embryos?

Autumn had been nothing short of extraordinary, a radiant beacon illuminating the darkest corners of his life. How could he have been so reckless as to gamble away their future together?

The ache of betrayal clawed at him, sharper than any physical pain.

In this moment of anguish, the longing for Autumn surged within him, more intense than he had ever felt before.

Her countless virtues flitted through his thoughts, each one a piercing reminder of his folly as he chased after what he now realized was nothing but fool’s gold, all the while neglecting the true treasure that was Autumn.

He could no longer endure the weight of his decisions. With a surge of urgency, he pulled the car over, tires screeching against the asphalt, and fumbled for his phone, desperate to reach her.

Surely, she would answer on the first ring. He had rehearsed an entire speech in his mind—an apology, a heartfelt plea for her to return home. But when the automated voice greeted him instead, it felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been splashed over him, extinguishing the flicker of hope he had clung to.

Stunned and bewildered, he grappled with the unsettling reality of her silence.

“Pick up, Autumn, damn it!” he shouted into the emptiness, frustration bubbling over like a boiling pot.

He dialed again, his heart racing with every ring, each one amplifying his anxiety.

Still nothing.

He tried again, and again, losing track of time as he continued to call, only to feel the cold dread settle in when his phone finally died. A chilling realization gripped him—

If Autumn had chosen to shut him out, he had no means of reaching her.

How could this be…?

They were married.

They were supposed to be each other’s lifelines, unwavering and steadfast.

In the past, when he couldn’t reach her, he could convince himself that she was merely upset and giving him the silent treatment.

But now, the truth loomed over him like a dark cloud, heavy and foreboding.

Autumn’s recent odd behavior ignited a terrifying suspicion within him. He turned the car back on, determination surging through him as he sped toward Cloudbreak, the place where he had always felt a semblance of control.

“Has Autumn Lopez been here?” he demanded as he stormed into the office, grabbing his assistant by the collar, his eyes blazing with urgency.

The assistant, taken aback by Mars’s sudden aggression, paled visibly. “N-no… Didn’t Secretary Autumn resign? Why would she come back?”

His words were factual, yet they struck Mars like a slap across the face.

Everyone at Cloudbreak was aware of Autumn’s resignation.

Only Mars had remained blissfully ignorant, having assumed her so-called “resignation” was merely an early maternity leave.

“Can you get in touch with her, then?” he pressed, desperation seeping into his voice, a plea masked as a demand.

“Right, you call her,” the assistant suggested, his voice shaky. “Tell her she left some things at the office and needs to come get them right away.”

Noticing the frantic look on Mars’s face, the assistant hesitated, concern etched across his features. “Mr. Wright, are you okay? Did something happen?”

Mars had no time for niceties. “Cut the crap and call her now!” he roared, his frustration spilling over like a dam bursting.

The atmosphere in the Executive Office shifted, everyone startled by Mars’s outburst. They exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do, instinctively pulling out their phones to try reaching Autumn.

Meanwhile, Autumn remained blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding. After securing her shares in Cloudbreak, she had gone to meet her lawyer, her phone silenced and tucked away in her bag.

It wasn’t until their meeting concluded that she noticed the barrage of missed calls from Mars, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Just as she was piecing together the situation, her phone buzzed again.

“Thank god, you finally picked up!”

The voice on the other end belonged to her assistant, relief evident in his tone.

Before Autumn could inquire about the urgency, the line crackled, and then Mars’s voice surged through, raw and demanding. “Autumn, where are you?”

She realized the noise must have been Mars snatching the phone from his assistant, and a frown crossed her face. “What is it?” she replied, her tone sharp and unyielding.

His words struck her like a punch to the gut. “Autumn? Are you still mad at me?”

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