The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 187

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma – Chapter 187**

Time seemed to stretch infinitely as Mars stood there, his breath hitching in his throat. Finally, he broke the silence with a sharp gasp that echoed through the room, reverberating in the hearts of those present.

He stumbled onto the stage, disbelief etched across his features. “You’re lying, aren’t you? What divorce papers? What resignation? I have no clue what you’re talking about!” His voice trembled, a mixture of anger and confusion swirling within him.

Autumn, poised and calm, offered him a faint, enigmatic smile. “Do you remember the other day? You and Lydia were deep in conversation in the office. I walked in to have you sign some documents. Those were the divorce and resignation papers, Mars.” Her words were like daggers, cutting through the haze of his denial.

“If only you had bothered to tear your gaze away from Lydia for just one fleeting moment, you might have noticed what you were actually signing,” she continued, her tone laced with a bitter sweetness.

Mars’s eyes widened, the shock washing over him like a tidal wave. He had never once considered that Autumn could be capable of such a maneuver. The realization that they had already divorced, without his knowledge, was a crushing blow.

“Lydia?” he stammered, the name slipping from his lips like a curse.

“Mars cheated with Lydia?” The crowd, which had been a mere backdrop to his personal crisis, suddenly became a living entity, their interest piqued by the unfolding drama.

The scandal of “Autumn cheating” paled in comparison to the salacious implications of “Mars cheating.” The crowd was hungry for gossip, and the reactions would be as varied as the individuals present. After all, society had a peculiar way of being more forgiving towards men. When a man strayed, he was merely “making a mistake all men make.” But when a woman faltered, the judgment was swift and merciless.

Earlier, Autumn had observed the scene unfold from the security monitors, her heart racing as Mars hurled accusations her way. The crowd’s response had been one of outrage, disbelief swirling in the air like a storm. But now, as she turned the tables, accusing Mars of infidelity with his own sister-in-law, disbelief rippled through the audience like a shockwave.

A cynical smile played on Autumn’s lips; this reaction was precisely what she had anticipated. That’s why she had chosen to watch from the periphery before making her grand entrance. The impact would be far more significant this way.

“Autumn, what on earth are you talking about?” Mrs. Lopez exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and fury. She shot frantic glances at Mars and Lydia, her mind racing. The plan to pin the blame on Autumn had derailed, and now their priority was to silence her before they became the laughingstocks of the evening.

Mars, shaken from his stupor, felt panic clawing at his chest. He stepped forward, grasping Autumn’s arm in a desperate attempt to snatch the microphone from her hand. “Autumn, this must be some kind of misunderstanding. You’ve heard a rumor and twisted it into something sinister. Today is my birthday. Can we just enjoy the party? We can discuss everything else when we get home, alright?”

“This is the birthday I’ve been waiting for, for what feels like ages. And didn’t you mention you had a surprise for me? Can we please not delve into this right now?” Autumn’s voice was firm, and she pulled her hand away, stepping back to create distance between them.

The sudden emptiness in Mars’s palm felt like a physical void, echoing the hollowness in his heart.

“Autumn…” he pleaded, his eyes searching hers for understanding.

He yearned for her to relent, to be the Autumn who had once loved him fiercely, who would help him navigate this chaos. But the woman standing before him was no longer the same.

Her gaze was cold, resolute, and unyielding. “This is the surprise I got you.”

With a swift motion, Autumn produced a divorce certificate from her purse and extended it towards Mars.

His hand trembled as he reached for it, disbelief coursing through him. “This isn’t real. You’re joking, right?”

The gravity of their divorce was a weight he couldn’t bear.

“Let me see that.” Lydia, who had been lurking in the background, suddenly appeared, her eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and malice.

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