The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 214

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace – Chapter 214**

The air was thick with a warm blush as Autumn felt the weight of the compliment settle over her like a soft blanket.

“Ahem… actually, we’re not married yet,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, as if saying it too loudly would make it all too real.

Only recently had she received her divorce papers, and the thought of marriage felt like a distant star—beautiful, yet so far away.

Owen had always insisted they should take their time, allowing her to fully untangle herself from the remnants of her past life.

But deep down, a nagging voice whispered that the chasm between their social and financial standings was too vast to ignore, leading her to believe that their union would ultimately be reduced to a mere formality—a few signatures on a piece of paper.

With a contract in place, there was no need for pretense; there would be no extravagant wedding or grand celebrations.

Perhaps they would simply fulfill their obligations and part ways quietly when the time came.

Yet, as this thought crossed her mind, a tightness gripped her chest, an inexplicable sorrow for something she hadn’t even lost yet.

What is it that I’m so hesitant to let go of?

Autumn didn’t dare to delve deeper into that question, fearing what she might uncover.

“Not married yet, but it’s coming soon! I mean, just look at how Mr. Bennett treats you! He’ll definitely throw you the most extravagant wedding!”

The young assistant, blissfully unaware of the true nature of Autumn and Owen’s arrangement, was lost in her own fairy tale vision of romance.

Autumn listened, a bemused smile playing at the corners of her lips.

She felt no need to interject with the truth; some secrets were meant to remain unspoken.

After she had changed into the gown, a sudden sharp gasp broke the silence.

“What’s wrong?” Autumn asked, her heart racing, fearing the worst about the dress.

But when she turned to look, she found the owner’s eyes sparkling with delight, while the assistant was utterly entranced.

Autumn shifted uneasily, her heart pounding. “Does it not look good?”

“It looks amazing!” the assistant exclaimed, her head bobbing up and down like a little bird. “So, so beautiful!”

The owner chimed in, “When I designed this gown, I envisioned how stunning you would look in it, but now I realize my imagination was limited. Autumn, this dress was practically tailored for you!”

As their enthusiastic praise washed over her, Autumn couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, “You guys are just flattering me.”

The assistant rushed to take her arm, her excitement palpable. “Flattering you? No way! You have to see for yourself. It’s seriously breathtaking, like you’ve just stepped out of a dream!”

Feeling skeptical, Autumn turned to face the mirror.

The moment her eyes locked onto the reflection of a woman who seemed almost unrecognizable, she froze, her breath hitching in her throat.

“Is… is that really me?”

Dressing up had never been her forte.

In the past, she had been too consumed by the chaos of life. Later, it had simply become a habit to avoid the fuss of it all.

During her time with Mars Wright, when they were launching their business, exhaustion had been her constant companion, and she would collapse into bed each night, too drained to care about her appearance. If it weren’t for her good genes, she knew her face would have been ravaged by neglect.

Then, as she began her journey toward motherhood, she finally started to prioritize her health, opting for a simpler, more natural look.

Her wardrobe shifted to looser, more comfortable styles, and compared to her, Lydia was a fashionista.

To save time, Autumn had settled on professional pant or skirt suits, easy to throw on and rush out the door without a second thought.

Her hair was always pulled back into a tight bun, a precaution against appearing unprofessional in front of business partners.

But now, as she donned the exquisite dress, the owner had let her hair down. It cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, framing her delicate face like a halo, making her feel like a siren emerging from the depths of the ocean.

The gown hugged her figure perfectly, accentuating her curves in a way that felt both foreign and exhilarating. Each seam seemed to have been crafted with her in mind, drawing her gaze and holding it captive.

Autumn stared, disbelief washing over her. The woman in the mirror was so stunning it took her breath away, and she struggled to comprehend that this radiant figure was her own.

“See? We weren’t exaggerating, were we?”

The young assistant’s exuberance only deepened Autumn’s embarrassment, her face flushing a bright crimson.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, the owner quickly intervened, cutting off the assistant before she could continue her stream of compliments. “Alright, you think Mr. Bennett doesn’t have eyes?”

“Come with me for a moment.”

With that, the owner turned back to Autumn. “I’m going to select some jewelry to complement this look. Be sure to come out and choose your favorites in a bit.”

With a knowing smile, she tactfully led the assistant out of the room, leaving Autumn and Owen alone.

Owen approached her slowly, his eyes never leaving her face, and the heat in her cheeks intensified under his gaze.

“You…”

Her voice was barely a whisper, but it seemed to snap Owen out of his daze. His eyes flickered away for a moment before returning to hers, filled with sincerity.

“You’re beautiful.”

Those two words hung in the air, heavy with meaning and devoid of superficiality.

Autumn could feel the weight of his admiration, genuine and warm, wrapping around her like a comforting embrace.

She clutched the hem of her dress, feeling utterly helpless, at a loss for words.

Thankfully, Owen broke the silence. “Do you like this style?”

Autumn nodded quickly, her heart racing.

“I love it.”

She had no idea when he had arranged for a custom gown to be made for her.

After a moment’s hesitation, she found the courage to ask, “Why the sudden need for a formal dress?”

Owen’s gaze lingered on her face, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “You’ll find out soon enough.”