The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 265

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

Autumn’s expression was a mixture of curiosity and concern. “What happened to the baby?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if the answer might shatter the fragile atmosphere around them.

“She had an abortion,” came the somber reply.

A gasp escaped Autumn’s lips, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“She was desperate for a son,” Nina continued, her tone laced with disdain. “When she found out it was a girl, she panicked, thinking it would push her timeline back for having a boy. So, she got rid of it.”

Nina’s disgust was palpable, her brow furrowing as she spoke of Ruby’s actions. “It’s probably karma. Ever since that day, she hasn’t been able to conceive again.”

Autumn contemplated the implications of Nina’s words. “And look, I know the Hendersons can be tough on Ruby, but honestly, I don’t think they’ve treated her as badly as she makes it seem.”

Nina pouted, crossing her arms defiantly. “If she was infertile and they kept pestering her about it, then that’s on them. But she brought this upon herself. Who can she blame?”

“The Hendersons never explicitly said she had to provide a male heir for the family business. She just got lost in her own insecurities and convinced herself she had to. And now look at the situation—everyone is miserable.”

Autumn nodded in agreement, the weight of the conversation settling heavily between them. “You’re absolutely right about that.”

“Come on, let’s go check out some more jewelry,” Nina suggested, eager to shift the focus away from the heavy topic. Autumn readily agreed, pushing the entire matter to the back of her mind, where it would simmer, unresolved.

Meanwhile, Marcus was driving Ruby and Ava back to the Henderson residence. As they entered the house, he noticed his mother, Margaret Hamilton, waiting for them in the living room, her face a mask of disapproval.

“Grandma?” Ava chirped, her voice brightening the tense atmosphere.

The moment Ava spotted her grandmother’s stern expression, her instincts kicked in. She rushed over, trying to charm her way out of any potential trouble. “Grandma, what are you doing at Uncle’s house?”

Margaret had always had a soft spot for her granddaughter, and seeing Ava’s sweet demeanor did soften her expression slightly. However, the underlying fury was still evident.

“Ava, why don’t you head upstairs for a bit?” she instructed, her voice firm yet gentle. The matriarch wanted to address the situation with the adults without scaring her beloved granddaughter.

Ava, relieved to escape the impending confrontation, nodded eagerly. Just before she left, she turned back, adding with a playful grin, “Grandma, don’t get too worked up! You need to take care of yourself!”

This comment only served to deepen Margaret’s affection for Ava, but it also intensified her disdainful glare directed at Ruby.

“I heard you caused quite a scene outside earlier,” Margaret stated, her voice cutting through the air like a knife.

Ruby’s heart sank at the accusation. She had known this confrontation was inevitable. Lowering her gaze, she struggled to mask the panic rising within her. “Mom, I was just so furious…”

*SLAM!* Margaret’s palm struck the table with a force that echoed in the room. “Furious? Is that really an excuse for your behavior? Do you have any idea how much you’ve embarrassed the Henderson family?!”

Ruby felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this. I thought this was a good match, but you married my son, and after all these years, you haven’t given him a single heir!”

Margaret’s voice dripped with disdain as she continued, “Now that my son has finally come to his senses, you have to go and interfere. What, just because you can’t have a child, you think you can stop him from having one with someone else?”

“Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter! Someone has to give my son an heir, don’t you think? Or do you want him to be the laughingstock for the rest of his life?”

Ruby’s face burned with indignation. The hypocrisy was staggering. This very woman, who had once showered her with passive-aggressive remarks when she learned the baby was a girl, was now dismissing the gender entirely.

“Aunt Ruby,” a voice called down from upstairs, breaking Ruby’s reverie. It was Ava, her tone laced with an unsettling mix of sympathy and intrigue.

Ruby’s heart raced as she looked up, meeting Ava’s gaze filled with pity.

“Aunt Ruby, life in the Henderson family is getting harder for you, isn’t it?” Ava’s words dripped with false sweetness, and Ruby regarded her with suspicion.

“What are you trying to do?” Ruby shot back, her defenses immediately rising.

Deep down, she knew Ava was a significant part of her struggles within this family. If Ava hadn’t spearheaded the bullying from the start, perhaps the others wouldn’t have treated her with such disdain.

“Aunt Ruby, how about we work together?” Ava suggested, slowly descending the stairs, her intentions unclear.

“You’ve seen Autumn Lopez, haven’t you?” she continued, her voice conspiratorial. “She’s not worthy of Owen Bennett at all. The only reason the Bennetts are even acknowledging her is because she’s pregnant with his child.”

Ruby listened, intrigued despite herself. “If that baby were gone… or let’s say, if *I* could get pregnant with Owen’s child… who do you think the Bennetts would choose?”

“They would choose you, of course,” Ruby replied, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

“A divorced woman with no status and no family connections—how could she ever compete with me for Owen Bennett?”

In Ruby’s eyes, the Bennetts had only compromised because of Autumn’s pregnancy. If someone more suitable came along, someone who outshone Autumn in every conceivable way, the Bennetts would be foolish not to recognize the better option.

“I see what you mean,” Ruby said, her mind racing with possibilities. She scrutinized Ava, trying to gauge her sincerity. “But why team up with me?”