The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

From the corner of her eye, Autumn Lopez saw Lydia Lopez’s ecstatic expression and let a faint, mocking smile touch her lips. “I said, let’s get a divorce.”

“Perfect. I’ll get an abortion, and we’ll split the assets fifty–fifty.”

Mars Wright exploded. He lunged toward Autumn, his hand reaching to grab her collar, but he froze, remembering her pregnancy. He stopped stiffly by the bed. “Don’t say things you don’t mean!”

His earlier fury vanished without a trace, and his voice softened considerably. “I was too impulsive just now, Autumn. We’re so good together. How can you talk about divorce?”

Autumn almost laughed out loud.

If I didn’t already know the truth, I might actually see this act and think he doesn’t want a divorce because he still has feelings for me.

But she knew better. Mars was only doing this to keep her chained to him through their marriage, to keep her slaving away for Cloudbreak Corporation.

Besides, Mars thought the baby she was carrying was his and Lydia’s.

He knew perfectly well that if they divorced, Autumn would absolutely terminate the pregnancy.

So, this divorce could not happen.

The sudden shift in Mars’s attitude only confirmed Autumn’s suspicions.

Seeing Mars seething with rage but afraid to unleash it sent a sharp pain through Autumn’s heart.

How could I have been so blind? To fall for such a useless man!

“Yeah, Autumn, Mars is so good to you. How could you bear to leave him?”

“Was it those two guys who just left your room? Did they say something to you? Autumn, you can’t believe a word they say. We’re family. We’re the only ones who would never hurt you. What do outsiders know, anyway?”

“Autumn, has the pregnancy made you all soft–hearted and gullible?”

Lydia’s words made Mars think of the two men he had seen in the elevator.

Though he had only seen them from behind, he could tell they were exceptionally impressive figures.

The thought of two men like that having been in Autumn’s room ignited a spark of jealousy in his heart.

His tone hardened again. “Who were those two men? Why were they coming out of your room? Autumn, did you cheat on me and now you’re trying to pin the blame on me first?”

“I’m telling you, a divorce is not happening. That baby in your belly is the treasure we’ve waited years for. If you dare touch.

it, I’ll make you regret it.”

Autumn listened to his words, her expression perfectly calm.

This was their classic move. Turn the tables, and even when they’re dead wrong, they’ll twist things until they sound like

they’re right

In the past, because she cared about them, Autumn would have just taken the abuse and said nothing.

But not anymore.

She gave a cold laugh and pointed to the security camera by the door. “Wanna make a bet? If I did anything to cheat on you, I’ll sign over all my shares in Cloudbreak for free. But If I didn’t, all the Cloudbreak shares become mine.”

Autumn stared provocatively at the two of them.

Mars and Lydia had no idea she’d already made Mars sign the divorce papers, nor did they know she’d submitted her resignation and was about to leave Cloudbreak.

uset

So Autumn could use this information gap to mess with this scumbag and his tramp.

They

y were screwing around behind her back. It was only fair she collect some interest.

“What are you talking about? Why would we make a bet over nothing?”

Mars’s eyes darted away. Clearly, he knew how ridiculous his accusation sounded.

Autumn shattered the fragile peace. “Why not bet? One of you is desperately trying to frame his own wife for cheating. and the other is fanning the flames to make sure the lie sticks. If I don’t take this bet, am I supposed to just drown in the

mud you’re slinging at me?”

“I mean, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone so eager to be cuckolded. If I’d known you had a cuck fetish, I would have died before marrying you.”

Mars nearly had an aneurysm.

“Who has a cuck fetish? Autumn, you’re being ridiculous! It was you who-”

“Are we betting or not?”

“I don’t have time to play your crazy games. Give me an answer, or get the hell out!”

Mars’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.

This assertive version of Autumn actually scared him.

Lydia’s eyes flickered, and she stared at Autumn as if she’d seen a ghost. She couldn’t understand how a person could change so dramatically in such a short time.

Could it really be the pregnancy hormones? Is that why Autumn’s acting like this?

“Alright, alright, Mars. We’re all family. Autumn said it, so let’s just believe her.”

Lydia tried to smooth things over.

Autumn immediately pressed the nurse call button “Could you please send security up here? I-”

Smack Mars slapped her hand away from the button.

She looked up and met his complicated gaze. As soon as their eyes met, he flinched as if burned and looked away, his voice panicked. “Stop messing around, Autumn. I know you, you’d never betray me. And you’re pregnant…

“Honestly, Lydia and I were just worried about you, so we came to the hospital to see you. We just happened to see two men leaving. I’m sorry. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have suspected you like that.

Mars backpedaled fast.

He obviously knew he couldn’t afford to take that bet, and he was worried that if he pushed Autumn too far, the company project in three days would grind to a halt. So, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and frustration and patiently try

to placate her.

Lydia’s face twisted with jealousy for a brief moment.

Mars had yelled at her over the company project, and she had planned to use her usual trick–provoking Mars by using

Autumn–to smooth things over between them.

She never expected Mars to still have feelings for Autumn and actually back down.

Damn it, all of this should have been hers! That bitch Autumn must have planned this whole scene to frame me and drive

a wedge between me and Mars!

Autumn didn’t miss Lydia’s expression.

Any affection she had for Lydia had vanished the moment she learned the truth.

Even though she had initially been nice to Lydia just to appear mature in front of her stepmother, her kindness had been genuine. She’d never been fake.

But Lydia turned out to be an ungrateful backstabber, taking everything she could get while scheming with Mars against her. So, she wasn’t about to be polite anymore.

“You’ve seen me. You can go now.”

“I need to rest.”

Mars’s face turned ugly when he saw that Autumn wasn’t responding to either threats or apologies.

Autumn ignored him and laid down.

A sinister glint flashed in Mars’s eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he turned to Lydia. “Lydia, I’ll stay here at the hospital

with your sister. You go home first.”

Lydia’s eyes instantly reddened. “But Mars, you have to work every day. How can you find time to take care of her? Maybe I should stay and help?”

Mars gave her a gentle smile. “Silly girl, I’m not that fragile. Besides, I’m her husband. It wouldn’t look right if I wasn’t here while she’s recovering.”

“You go home. When your sister is better, I’ll take both of you out to have some fun.”

“Mars, you’re so good to me…”

Listening to them flirt shamelessly right in front of her, Autumn couldn’t help but gag.

Seriously, were they going to start making a baby right in her hospital room?

Mars stiffened and turned to look at her. “Autumn, are you not feeling well?”

Autumn was about to tell them both to get lost, but on second thought, why should she let them be so comfortable? She nodded at Mars. “I’m feeling a little nauseous. I’m craving one of those loaded hot dogs from that stand in Eastville. Go

get one for me.”

“You want me to go?”

Mars was incredulous. “Autumn, you-”

“Weren’t you the one who said you were staying to take care of me?”