The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 235

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 235**

The words that slipped from Madelyn’s lips were not merely rude; they dripped with venom, cutting deeper than any blade. Autumn, along with her companions, instinctively turned their heads, drawn by the unmistakable sound of two girls striding out, linked together like a pair of storm clouds ready to unleash chaos.

As their eyes met, one of the girls—Madelyn—lifted her chin defiantly, a smug smirk plastered across her face, radiating a sense of superiority that was both infuriating and predictable.

“Madelyn Carter?” Autumn’s mind raced as recognition washed over her like a cold wave.

Madelyn was none other than Nathan Parker’s niece—the very same girl who had brazenly claimed she was on a mission to catch her uncle in the act of infidelity the last time their paths crossed.

If Autumn had foreseen that her alliance with Nathan would lead to such a tangled web of trouble, she would have thought twice about approaching him. Now, she found herself ensnared in a drama that felt both juvenile and exhausting.

Mars Wright was in a precarious position, regardless of whom she decided to share that sensitive information with. Why had she even bothered reaching out to Nathan Parker? Now, here she was, besieged by these immature girls, their relentless taunts echoing in her ears.

Being branded a homewrecker was a label she could not afford to wear, not in her world.

She had no interest in engaging with this kind of unprovoked hostility.

“Oh, so you do remember me?” Madelyn’s voice dripped with mockery as she and her companion sauntered closer to Autumn, their confidence palpable.

It was only then that Autumn recognized the other girl—Hailey, Ava Henderson’s former sidekick. The memory flickered in her mind, a brief flash of the trio that had seemed so innocuous that day.

It took a moment for Autumn to recall Hailey’s name, but it came to her—Hailey. She remembered how the three of them hadn’t appeared particularly close, and now, to see Hailey so readily abandon Ava for Madelyn was bewildering.

What was this? A classic case of “misery loves company”?

Autumn couldn’t be bothered to decipher the fickle dynamics of teenage friendships. Her expression hardened as she focused on Madelyn and Hailey, her voice steady and clear. “Yes, I was indeed discussing a partnership with Mr. Parker last time we spoke. I trust he clarified any misunderstandings with you once you returned home.”

“If you dare to use the term ‘homewrecker’ in reference to me again, don’t be surprised if I take legal action to defend my reputation.”

“You both look quite young. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to mar your records with something as serious as a criminal charge at this stage of your lives, would you?”

Madelyn’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting Autumn to stand her ground. Just as she opened her mouth to retaliate, Hailey instinctively grabbed her arm, a gesture that spoke volumes in the tense atmosphere.

Hailey shot Autumn a look filled with disdain, her eyes glinting with a private malice that suggested a deeper vendetta.

It was Hailey who had planted the seed in Ava’s mind that day, convincing her to confront Autumn. Ava, perched high on her pedestal, would never dirty her hands with such matters. No, it was Hailey who had taken it upon herself to inform Madelyn, encouraging her to catch Autumn in what she believed to be a scandalous act.

Hailey had envisioned a foolproof plan, one that Autumn would have no chance of escaping, no matter how many excuses she conjured. Yet, against all odds, Autumn had emerged from that encounter unscathed.

To make matters worse, Nathan Parker had intervened, warning them off with a stern authority that even someone of Ava’s stature could not afford to ignore.

Hailey, however, had found herself on the receiving end of Ava’s ire. The blame for the failed scheme had fallen squarely on her shoulders, tarnishing her reputation while inadvertently marring Ava’s name in the process.

Feeling wronged, Hailey simmered with resentment.

She was merely the illegitimate daughter of a family that lacked the prestige of others. She had clawed her way into Ava’s good graces, dropping out of college to chase after a semblance of status abroad, only to return home and find herself cast aside. How was she supposed to devise a brilliant scheme when she was constantly overshadowed?

After all, what better way to ruin a woman’s reputation than to label her a homewrecker? Hailey had witnessed how such accusations had devastated her own mother, leading to the loss of her second child at the hands of cruel gossip.

That was why she had thought her plan would succeed—how could it fail?

But who could have predicted that Autumn’s husband would show up?

From that moment forward, Hailey’s disdain for Autumn had festered, transforming into a deep-seated hatred.

She blamed Autumn for the embarrassment she had faced in front of Ava, the humiliation that had followed her like a shadow.

To compound her misery, Hailey had spent countless hours trying to mend her relationship with Ava, only to be met with cold indifference. With no other allies left, she had turned to Madelyn Carter.

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