The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 241

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 241**

Ultimately, Autumn made a decision that surprised even herself: she chose not to accept the money.

It wasn’t that she was financially struggling; on the contrary, she was quite stable.

But the truth was, Mrs. Parker had been misled, and now that the air had been cleared, her apology rang with such sincerity that Autumn felt no need to prolong the situation.

So, when Mrs. Parker insisted on handing her the money, Autumn took a moment to consider her options before responding. “Why not think of it as a way to build up some good karma for everyone involved?” she suggested with a gentle smile.

“And in the future, Mrs. Parker,” she added, her tone shifting to one of gentle admonition, “it would be wise to think before you act. Impulsivity can lead to regret.”

Mrs. Parker, visibly impressed by Autumn’s grace and maturity, slapped her thigh in frustration. “What a shame we had to meet under these circumstances! If only things had been different, I can tell we would have made great friends. Ms. Lopez, I truly vibe with your personality!”

Autumn merely offered a polite smile in return, feeling a warmth in her chest at the compliment but also a sense of distance that reminded her of the complexities of their encounter.

With the matter settled, Autumn and her companions made their way out of the police station, the weight of the earlier events slowly lifting from their shoulders.

Owen had mentioned earlier that he needed to step out for a call, but he had yet to return, and a flicker of concern began to gnaw at Autumn. “Do you think your brother is okay? Who could he possibly be calling?” she asked, glancing at Nina, who shook her head, looking equally perplexed.

“I have no clue! Should we just call him?” Nina suggested, her brow furrowing in thought.

Autumn paused, biting her lip as she considered her options. “No, let’s give him a little more time. What if it’s something important?” she replied, not wanting to disrupt whatever conversation Owen might be having.

Just then, as if on cue, Owen’s car pulled up in front of them, the engine purring softly as the window rolled down to reveal his handsome face. “Let’s head back,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

Nina’s face lit up with excitement. “Oh, so you went to get the car! Autumn and I were starting to wonder where you disappeared to!”

She opened the door for Autumn, helping her into the vehicle with a tenderness that spoke of their close friendship. Once Autumn was settled, Nina swung her long legs into the back seat and, after shutting the door, leaned forward to ask, “So, who did you call, bro?”

Owen’s expression darkened slightly, a flicker of disgust crossing his features as he replied, “The Hendersons.”

“The Hendersons?” Autumn echoed, exchanging a surprised glance with Nina.

“I thought you were going to deal with the Parkers! Why would you reach out to the Hendersons?” she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Although Ava Henderson was indeed involved, they had no tangible evidence against her. Confronting them directly could jeopardize family relationships.

“I asked Marcus Henderson to look into it,” Owen explained, his tone clipped.

Nina leaned closer to Autumn, her voice barely above a whisper as she clarified, “Marcus is Owen’s aunt’s husband. And he’s a total fanboy of my brother.”

“But honestly, the Hendersons are a lost cause. Marcus isn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the box,” she added, rolling her eyes. “For years, they’ve just been riding the coattails of the Bennett Group to get ahead in business. Owen has let it slide because, well, they’re family.”

“But this time, for Ava to be scheming against you, Autumn… even I can’t stand for that, let alone my brother,” she said, her voice firm.

Autumn felt a warmth bloom in her chest at Owen’s willingness to defend her. “You really didn’t have to go to such lengths. They are our elders, after all,” she replied, her voice soft but resolute.

Despite her reservations about Ava, the thought of Owen standing up for her filled her with gratitude. The idea that Marcus was Owen’s “fanboy” made her want to chuckle. She could almost picture the look of shock on his face when he received a call from his idol, only to find himself being grilled instead.

“Who cares? An aunt’s husband isn’t much of a relative anyway. Autumn, you were wronged, and we need to set things right! Otherwise, people will start thinking the Bennetts are pushovers,” Nina insisted, her voice rising with passion.

“Don’t worry, Autumn. My brother knows what he’s doing,” Nina added, her confidence infectious.

Owen shot Nina a weary glance, his thoughts swirling. She always knew just what to say, yet somehow managed to interrupt him at the most inconvenient moments.

After leaving the police station with her aunt, Madelyn Carter made a detour to the hospital.

They confirmed that Mrs. Parker was fine—just a bit too emotional, almost fainting from the stress. As long as she took the time to rest and manage her emotions, everything would be alright. Only then did the aunt and niece let out a collective sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness it’s nothing serious. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing my health on top of being betrayed by that scoundrel,” Mrs. Parker said, patting her chest indignantly.

“Madelyn, remember this well: a woman should never, ever harm herself over a man who isn’t worth it,” she advised, her tone firm yet caring.

Madelyn nodded, absorbing her aunt’s wisdom.

The entire episode with Nathan Parker had made her far more cautious when it came to men.

It was true: the more charming the actor, the more likely he was to be plotting something sinister behind the scenes. She would have to tread carefully from now on.

“That Hailey who manipulated you is no good. You should steer clear of her in the future,” her aunt warned, and Madelyn agreed wholeheartedly.

Yet, as soon as she dropped her aunt off at home, she took her bodyguards and stormed over to Hailey’s apartment.

She not only wrecked the place but also demanded back every penny she had ever spent on Hailey before leaving, satisfaction etched on her face.

Staring at her ruined home, Hailey felt paralyzed by fear and didn’t dare pursue Madelyn. All she could do was grab her phone and call Ava for help.

After all, she had slandered Autumn to curry favor with Ava. Ava couldn’t just abandon her now.

**Chapter 242**