The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 223

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

Mars Wright finally grasped the profound sting of betrayal, an ache that gnawed at him, emanating from those he had once considered allies, friends, and confidants. The sensation was suffocating, wrapping around his throat like a noose. He felt an overwhelming urge to lash out, to strangle Autumn Lopez, the very source of his turmoil. Yet, beneath that fierce anger lay a bedrock of guilt that weighed heavily on his conscience.

In a moment of self-recrimination, Mars wanted nothing more than to slap himself across the face, to shake off the foolishness that had led him to this juncture. How had it come to this?

“Get back on the phone,” he barked, his voice sharp and demanding. “I refuse to accept that everyone is content working with Autumn Lopez. Is her network truly that influential?”

The assistant, caught off guard, responded with a hint of helplessness, “Secretary Autumn’s connections aren’t the issue, sir, but Mr. Bennett’s certainly are.”

Mars felt as though a hammer had struck him squarely on the head, leaving him reeling and utterly humiliated. Right… Owen Bennett’s connections were indeed formidable. The image of Autumn and Owen together, standing side by side with an air of camaraderie, ignited a firestorm of rage within him.

He wanted to scream, to unleash his fury on everyone around him, to drive them all off the road in a fit of madness. But he held back, knowing that the chaos swirling around Cloudbreak was already causing him a monumental headache. Instinctively, Mars recognized the need to rein in his emotions. If he didn’t find a way to navigate this disaster, the situation would only worsen.

“What’s the buzz around the office?” he demanded, his tone laced with impatience. “I pay these people handsomely; can’t a single one of them step up and tackle a problem?”

The assistant’s gaze fell, guilt etched across his features. “It was always Secretary Autumn who devised the plans during times like these…”

Everyone at Cloudbreak had grown accustomed to turning to Secretary Autumn for guidance.

Difficult partners? Seek out Secretary Autumn.

Investment troubles? Find Secretary Autumn.

Looking for Mr. Wright? Go to Secretary Autumn.

Though her official title was merely Chief Secretary, the staff regarded her as a multi-talented genius, an indispensable asset. There was an unspoken agreement among them that no challenge was too great for Autumn Lopez to handle.

But with her departure, the company began to unravel. Back then, Cloudbreak still operated on its old foundations, and from the outside, everything appeared stable. Yet, once Autumn publicly announced her decision to leave and her divorce, it was as if the ground had shifted beneath Cloudbreak’s feet. The illusion shattered like a fragile bubble under the sun, revealing the chaotic reality hidden within.

Now, with the entire company looking to Mars for salvation, the pressure was mounting.

“Mr. Wright, everyone’s running around like headless chickens. Some are already contemplating quitting and seeking other opportunities. You need to make a decision about Cloudbreak, and quickly.”

At last, Mars’s simmering fury erupted.

“Who wants to quit? Are they all a bunch of ungrateful fools? Cloudbreak hits a minor bump, and they want to abandon ship? Have they forgotten how well Cloudbreak has treated them?”

The assistant, who had tried to remain silent, finally found his voice.

“Secretary Autumn was the one who established the old compensation and benefits package. The new secretaries haven’t been here long, but they’ve already altered many of the perks. The employees were already disgruntled about that. Now, with everything going on, who would dare to stay?”

“What are you implying?” Mars could hardly believe his assistant was daring to complain. He slammed his hand on the table, his voice a thunderous roar. “Are you placing the blame on me?”

“I see it now. None of you possess any sense of responsibility; it’s all about the money!”

When Autumn was able to provide them with benefits and perks, they adored her. Now that Cloudbreak faced turmoil, their first instinct was not to rally behind the company and weather the storm but to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

Mars’s outburst made the assistant too frightened to even meet his gaze.

But internally, thoughts raced through his mind: Of course! You think people come to work out of passion and not for a paycheck? If they could lounge at home, who would want to toil away?

Especially for a company led by a boss as incompetent as Mars.

Cloudbreak without Autumn was a complete disaster.

If he hadn’t been struggling to find a decent job himself, he would have been long gone.

I wonder if Secretary Autumn… no, I should refer to her as Ms. Lopez now… has any openings at her new company? With Autumn running her own show, the benefits she provides her employees must be far superior to what Cloudbreak offers, right?

The assistant felt a strong temptation to make that leap.

Mars caught sight of his assistant’s eyes flitting about, clearly lost in thought, which only fueled his anger further.

“What’s on your mind? The company is in shambles, and you have the luxury of daydreaming?”

The assistant remained silent, fearful of revealing his thoughts, terrified that Mars would block his resignation and keep him trapped in this mess.

“Mr. Wright, the company’s most pressing issue right now is the lack of contracts.”

The assistant interjected, “Her company.”

“Didn’t she establish her own company? Mr. Wright, if you go directly to her office, there’s no way you won’t run into her, right?”

“Of course!”

Mars smacked his forehead in realization. “How could I have forgotten that? Find out where her company is located right now. I’m going to see her.”

The more he contemplated it, the more excitement surged through him, rubbing his hands together as he paced the room.

Autumn was a total softie, especially when it came to Cloudbreak, a company she had invested so much of herself in.

Mars believed they could set aside their divorce for the moment. The priority was to persuade Autumn to step in and assist Cloudbreak.

At worst, he would have to offer her the shares that should have been hers all along.

For years, he had clung to those shares, unwilling to relinquish them, but now he had no choice but to use them as leverage.

He was confident that Autumn would never abandon the company she had painstakingly built from the ground up.

With newfound determination, Mars puffed out his chest. “Get to it. I’m going to take a shower and change.”

He had let his appearance slip for far too long; he hadn’t even shaved. He couldn’t risk scaring Autumn away.

Watching him, the assistant shook his head in disbelief, speechless.

What made him think Autumn would ever consider taking him back after his infidelity?

Despite his disdain, the assistant dutifully gathered the contact information for Stream Cloud Technologies.

Soon, Autumn received word that Mars intended to visit her at her office.

Without hesitation, she agreed to the meeting, not out of lingering feelings, but because there were still unresolved matters between them. She scheduled their meeting for eleven in the morning.