The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 240

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

With Nathan Parker’s shocking revelation, the world around him seemed to simplify in an instant.

He had no ties to Autumn Lopez—none that could be traced, at least. A police inquiry would reveal nothing more than the standard, professional exchanges that anyone might expect.

But Nathan’s story was far more tangled. The investigation would undoubtedly uncover the truth, and the young woman he had been shielding for far too long would be thrust into the spotlight, exposed before both Mrs. Parker and Madelyn Carter.

“It’s really her?”

Mrs. Parker and Madelyn stood frozen in disbelief, their minds racing as they processed the implications. They were well aware of who Nathan’s mistress was.

“Nathan Parker, you absolute scoundrel! You’re a monster! Even a rabbit knows better than to graze near its own burrow, yet you chose to prey on one of the scholarship students we support?”

Mrs. Parker’s voice trembled with fury, her family’s devout nature weighing heavily on her heart. Each year, they contributed a significant sum to charitable causes, believing that their generosity would bring blessings upon their family, ensuring prosperity and long, healthy lives for its members.

In the past, Mrs. Parker had personally overseen the charity work. Yet, one year, illness had prevented her from managing it herself. During a minor hiccup with the foundation, she had turned to Nathan for assistance. After his first experience, he returned home, brimming with enthusiasm, praising her family for their benevolence.

Seeing his genuine interest, Mrs. Parker had decided to entrust him with the foundation’s management.

“We’re all family here. If you want to contribute, my parents would be overjoyed. It’s a wonderful way for you to build some good karma. And if your company ever faces a scandal, you can leverage this goodwill to manage public perception,” she had said, her voice warm with hope.

Such practices were common among the affluent, and Nathan had not been surprised. As long as their money was put to good use, their consciences remained unburdened.

It was during the process of evaluating scholarship candidates that Nathan first laid eyes on her. She was a bright young woman hailing from a remote, mountainous region, responsible for two younger sisters and a brother.

Having risen from humble beginnings himself, Nathan felt an immediate connection to her struggles. Initially, his intentions were purely protective, devoid of any ulterior motives. But as tensions with Mrs. Parker escalated, his yearning for a child intensified, especially after attending a golden wedding anniversary where his peers reveled in the joy of their children and grandchildren, while he felt the emptiness of his own life.

That fateful night, intoxicated and lost in his thoughts, Nathan’s car service dropped him off at the young woman’s address. Stumbling through the door, he found her waiting, concern etched on her face. She helped him inside, her gentle demeanor soothing his inebriated state, and she tended to him throughout the night.

As dawn broke, Nathan awoke to find her sleeping peacefully beside him. In that moment, something within him snapped, and he lost all sense of restraint.

From that night onward, the nature of their relationship shifted irrevocably. Nathan wrestled with his conscience for a time, but when the young woman revealed her pregnancy, he succumbed completely to the chaos he had created.

“Nathan Parker, you’ve truly outdone yourself!”

“I trusted you! I handed over the foundation to you, and you used it to indulge your desires!”

Mrs. Parker’s heartbreak was palpable as she glared at Nathan, her eyes filled with betrayal. “Tell me! How many other girls have you exploited through the foundation? How many innocent lives have you tarnished? I want names, Nathan! One by one!”

Madelyn, too, stared at her uncle, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

In her mind, he had always been the epitome of charm and sophistication, a cultured man who had once inspired her admiration. She had envied the bond between her aunt and uncle, never once suspecting that he would stoop to such a disgraceful act as infidelity with a much younger woman.

Though she had previously been eager to catch him in the act, she had found no concrete evidence. But now, the truth lay bare before her, and the revelation that the girl was pregnant made her stomach churn. It felt as if the very essence of the man she had once respected had morphed into something grotesque.

“I didn’t do that!”

Nathan’s voice came out hoarse and defensive. “Is that really how you see me?”

“I have never betrayed you in all these years! This is the first time!”

The arrogance that had defined Mrs. Parker just moments ago had evaporated, replaced by embarrassment. At her age, having to humbly apologize to someone so much younger felt like a new low, and she mentally added the entire burden of this incident to Nathan’s account.

“I’m sorry…” Madelyn echoed, her cheeks flushed with shame as she followed her aunt’s lead.

“Is ‘sorry’ really enough? My sister-in-law is pregnant! You two were ready to attack her without knowing the full story. If she had been unable to handle the stress, if you had harmed her in any way, could you have lived with yourselves?”

With the truth now exposed, Nina felt a flicker of sympathy for Mrs. Parker. Yet, she couldn’t overlook how Mrs. Parker had unjustly targeted Autumn without understanding the facts.

Had she and her brother not been there, things could have escalated dangerously.

You reap what you sow. The earlier arrogance of Mrs. Parker made it hard for Nina to feel much compassion.

“We are sincerely sorry. This was our fault.”

“Ms. Lopez, we will apologize in whatever manner you deem appropriate. I won’t try to evade responsibility,” Mrs. Parker stated, her tone straightforward despite the situation.

Recognizing her mistakes, she made no excuses, openly expressing her willingness to accept full accountability and compensate Autumn for her distress.

When the police inquired about her perspective, Autumn, valuing peace over conflict, opted for a private resolution.

Initially, she requested a public apology, but Mrs. Parker felt that wasn’t sufficient and presented a card with a staggering sum of one million dollars.

“For the emotional distress. Ms. Lopez, if you believe this isn’t enough, I can transfer more.” Autumn was taken aback by the sheer generosity of the offer, quickly declining. Though the incident had left her seething, she didn’t feel right about accepting a million dollars for nothing.

“Please, don’t worry about it. Honestly, I was wondering how a successful, independent woman like you could ever become a mistress. I let my emotions cloud my judgment… I’m truly sorry. Take the money. If it’s insufficient, we can always add more!”