The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 243

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

**Chapter 243**

How did this all fall on my shoulders?

I mean, Ava and I were in this together, weren’t we?

Who could have possibly predicted that Madelyn Carter would possess such an impeccable memory? The instant she laid eyes on Autumn Lopez, she lost it completely, charging at her like a bull in a china shop.

And that was the catalyst for this entire, unfixable disaster.

I really did try to intervene today; I swear I did! But I was powerless to stop her! How is any of this my fault? Am I not a victim in this situation as well?

“Mr. Henderson, you’ve got it all wrong. This wasn’t my doing—”

“Enough! I’ve already given Ava a piece of my mind. You two are not to see each other again.”

“You’re a young woman, Hailey. You would do well to invest your time in acquiring a real skill, something you can rely on, rather than getting entangled in this sort of mess.”

With those harsh words, Marcus Henderson ended the call.

Hailey’s hands shook, her heart racing in her chest like a wild animal. She desperately tried to call him back, longing to clarify that she was not to blame for any of this.

But to her dismay, she discovered that Marcus had blocked her number as well.

Feeling utterly defeated and with no alternatives left, she frantically searched for a way to reach one of the housekeepers at Henderson Manor.

Having visited the estate before to see Ava, the staff recognized her, albeit vaguely.

Seeing the desperation etched on her face, and after Hailey discreetly slipped a few bills into the housekeeper’s hand, she finally got the opportunity to sneak onto the property.

She had to talk to Ava in person. If she could just plead for forgiveness, everything could be put right again.

However, upon arriving at Henderson Manor, her heart sank. She couldn’t catch even a glimpse of Ava. Instead, fate dealt her a cruel hand as she unexpectedly ran into Ruby Bennett, who had just returned after being coldly dismissed at the Bennett family estate.

The moment the Hendersons learned they had been blacklisted by the Bennetts—no more invitations to any events, ever—they had immediately summoned Ruby, instructing her to return to her family and sort things out.

Ruby was seething with anger that they still had the audacity to demand her assistance while practically groveling. But knowing they were in a bind, she decided to exploit the situation for a plethora of perks before making her way to the estate.

She had assumed that, as a relative, the Bennetts would at least extend her some basic courtesy.

Never in her wildest dreams did she think they would deny her entry at the front gate.

Ruby stood outside, feeling as if she were waiting for an eternity, but no one came to unlock the door. Humiliated and filled with rage, she had no choice but to retreat.

Already boiling with indignation, when she saw a young woman stealthily moving around the property, Ruby’s temper exploded.

“Who the hell are you? What are you doing on our property?”

Hailey jumped, startled by the sudden confrontation, her mind racing as she struggled to articulate a coherent response.

But Ruby jumped to conclusions. She assumed Hailey had nefarious intentions regarding Marcus and had sneaked in to seduce him.

Finally, having found a target for her pent-up fury, Ruby ordered her staff to seize Hailey, then stormed up and slapped her hard across the face, again and again.

Hailey’s head spun from the blows. Realizing Ruby had completely misunderstood the situation, she quickly tried to explain that she was there solely to see Ava.

Ruby dismissed her words entirely.

In the scuffle, Hailey’s phone slipped from her grasp and clattered to the ground. Ruby snatched it up first, opened the call log, and her eyes widened as she saw the very first number belonged to her husband.

“You little liar! How dare you deceive me!”

Hailey’s eyes widened in disbelief. The sheer coincidence of it all was staggering.

“Mr. Henderson was the one who called me! It was about Ava—”

Ruby was having none of it.

She commanded her staff to rip Hailey’s clothes off and throw her out.

Hailey desperately attempted to cover herself, but they continued to tear at her clothes until she was left in nothing but her bra and underwear.

Utterly humiliated, she sobbed uncontrollably.

Yet Ruby felt no remorse or sympathy. Her eyes blazed with unadulterated hatred for what she perceived as the other woman.

When Marcus Henderson returned home, his face contorted in disgust at the chaotic scene before him. “What on earth is happening now?”

His patience with Ruby had already worn thin, and her words were the final straw. He stopped holding back. “Think whatever you want.”

Marcus scooped Hailey up into his arms and strode toward the door.

Hailey gasped, but then she realized this might be her golden opportunity. She went limp, leaning against him like a puddle of water.

Marcus had never been one for theatrics, but now, with the warm, soft woman in his arms, her tear-streaked face displaying utter desolation, even his hardened heart began to soften just a fraction.

Besides, there were still aspects of the incident involving Ava that he didn’t fully grasp. He carried her to the car. “I’ll take you home.”

Hailey nodded, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you, Mr. Henderson…”

The title felt slightly awkward to Marcus, yet the more he heard it, the more an unfamiliar sensation began to brew within him.

At the manor’s main gate, Ruby chased after them, only to witness Marcus actually driving away with Hailey. She looked as though she might shatter into a million pieces.

“Marcus Henderson, get back here!”

“Marcus Henderson!”

But the car merely continued to drive further away, showing no signs of stopping.

Ruby collapsed onto the ground, her expression one of utter devastation, as if her very soul had been wrenched from her body.

It was no secret that the Hendersons had infuriated the Bennetts.

For Owen Bennett to personally call and issue a warning—the Henderson family was undoubtedly the first to receive such an honor.

Thus, the drama unfolding on Marcus Henderson’s end quickly captured the attention of others.

The news reached Nina’s ears first, and she wasted no time relaying it to Autumn Lopez.

“Ruby really fumbled a winning hand, didn’t she? How hard is it to do a little digging? I think she really shot herself in the foot this time.”

Autumn hadn’t anticipated such a turn of events either. She was momentarily stunned before responding, “Not necessarily.”

Just as Nina was about to ask what she meant, a housekeeper entered and addressed Autumn. “Ma’am, a Miss Ava Henderson is here. She says she wants to see you. Should I let her in?”