The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 253

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma – Chapter 253**

There were moments when Autumn Lopez found herself genuinely astounded by the audacity of her family. Time and again, they engaged in fierce arguments, each altercation seemingly deepening the chasms in their relationships. Yet, despite the escalating tension, they behaved as if the wounds inflicted by their disputes could simply vanish into thin air. It was as if they operated under the delusion that their love was so profound that it could erase any trace of anger or resentment.

As the only daughter in the Lopez family, Autumn felt the heavy weight of expectation on her shoulders. She was expected to swallow her pride, to suppress her grievances, and to return to the fold the moment her parents decided they were ready to reconcile. Anything less than compliance was deemed disrespectful, a betrayal that would tarnish the family’s name.

But why should Autumn be concerned about the reputation of the Lopez family? After all, she was the one who had toiled tirelessly to elevate that name in the first place. Hadn’t she played a pivotal role in transforming Cloudbreak Corporation from a mere dream into a thriving enterprise? If it weren’t for her relentless efforts alongside Mars Wright, would anyone even recognize the Lopez name?

Her father, a coward in her eyes, had abandoned the family business when it was teetering on the brink of collapse, walking away without so much as a backward glance. Autumn had shouldered the burden alone, navigating the tumultuous waters of hardship without any support from her so-called family. They had shown her no gratitude; the moment the Lopez Group began to show signs of recovery, they swooped in, eager to bask in the benefits of her labor. If they could act so shamelessly, what right did they have to demand that she uphold their precious family image?

“Don’t worry, Mr. Lopez,” she had quipped, her tone laced with sarcasm. “If I do end up marrying into the Bennett family, I’ll make sure to keep my parents away from the ceremony. Wouldn’t want to embarrass them, after all.”

Her words hung in the air, unambiguous and cutting. She had no intention of inviting her father to walk her down the aisle. Still, Oliver Lopez stood there, preening himself, convinced that his daughter would eventually relent for the sake of maintaining their picture-perfect family facade. He believed he had her wrapped around his finger, completely oblivious to the fact that she regarded him as nothing more than a foolish clown.

“Autumn, you wouldn’t dare!” he blustered, his voice rising in indignation.

“I’m your father! How could you do this to me? What kind of daughter gets married without her father?” His desperation was palpable, his dreams of high-society connections hanging by a thread.

If Autumn refused to include him, he feared he would become the laughingstock of their entire social circle. The thought of being shunned by his own daughter was a nightmare he couldn’t bear to contemplate.

“You didn’t come to my wedding with Mars Wright either, did you?” Autumn replied coolly, shrugging as if the matter were trivial.

Oliver faltered, his bravado wavering. Yes, back when she and Mars had tied the knot, they had opted for a small ceremony, constrained by their financial struggles. Yet, Mars had infused their wedding with all the meaningful touches he could muster, and that had made Autumn believe in the depth of his love. She had thought that their union would be the foundation of a lasting happiness.

But reality had shattered that illusion, leaving her with a bittersweet gratitude for having escaped before the situation could worsen. Had she stayed, her family would have dragged her deeper into their chaos.

“I know you’re still upset with me, but your mother and I genuinely couldn’t make it back then,” Oliver attempted to reason, his tone shifting to one of feigned sincerity. “We’re family, Autumn. There’s really no need for this hostility.”

“Your mother was just saying that for your wedding to Mr. Bennett, our family should put together a dowry for you,” he continued, his voice filled with a mix of hope and expectation.

“It’s just that you’ve seen how the family business is faring, and your sister, Lydia, she…”

“Lydia is the younger sister, after all. Do you think you could… figure something out?” he pressed, desperation creeping into his voice.

Autumn let out a laugh, cold and humorless.

Even now, they still wanted to leech off her? She had encountered shameless individuals before, but this was an entirely new level of audacity.

“No,” she replied, her voice icy. “After years of tolerating your whims and indulging you, I’ve done more than enough. I’ve repaid every debt I owed. I told you, I have nothing to do with the Lopez family anymore.”

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