The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 275

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

**LANA Can Be**

“You need to tell me what’s going on,” Lana insisted, her voice firm yet laced with concern.

Before Autumn could muster a response, Nina, unable to contain herself any longer, interjected, “Seriously, you two! I’m right here, you know? Are you just going to ignore me and have your own little secret conversation?”

“And Owen, do you really think you’re being fair here?” she added, crossing her arms in mock indignation.

Owen turned his gaze to Nina, the warmth that had radiated toward Autumn evaporating instantaneously, replaced by the exasperation one might reserve for a particularly bratty child. “How exactly am I being unfair?” he retorted, his tone edged with irritation.

Nina pointed a finger at her own nose, emphasizing her point. “You’re ignoring your sister just to ask her a bunch of pointless questions! Do you think that’s appropriate behavior?”

To Nina’s surprise, Owen played along with her childish banter, a smirk creeping onto his face. “And why wouldn’t it be? Autumn is my wife, the mother of my child. What’s wrong with showing a little concern for her?”

“But you already know how she’s doing, so why ask again? Don’t you think that’s just a bit cheesy?” Nina shot back, raising an eyebrow.

Owen’s expression shifted into mock disbelief. “*I’m* cheesy?” he replied, feigning shock.

Nina felt a chill run down her spine, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. She quickly coughed, trying to backtrack. “No, no! *I’m* cheesy. I’m the cheesy one, okay?”

Owen let out a snort of laughter. “Your mission today is to stick by your sister-in-law’s side and not leave her for even a moment.”

“If I see her alone for even a second, you’re going to be the one I hold accountable. And don’t even think about your allowance!”

“What? How could you do that?” Owen exclaimed, feigning horror.

Nina attempted to protest, but one icy glare from Owen silenced her immediately.

“Fine, fine! I get it,” she relented, throwing her hands up in defeat.

Owen let out another snort, as if to say, *You really think you can challenge me?*

From the sidelines, Autumn couldn’t help but chuckle at the sibling banter.

As soon as she laughed, Owen turned his attention back to her. “I might be a bit busy today, so I’ll have Nina stay with you. Don’t be nervous; I’ll find you as soon as I can,” he assured, giving Autumn’s hand a gentle pat.

“If anyone offers you cash gifts, just take them. Don’t be polite about it,” he added with a wink.

Autumn nodded, a smile creeping onto her face. “Okay.”

Only then did Owen walk away, glancing back every few steps, as if reluctant to leave.

Nina made a tsk-tsk sound, shaking her head. “I should’ve recorded that for everyone to see,” she mused.

“I can guarantee that no one would ever believe the cold and distant Mr. Bennett acts like this in private,” Autumn replied, a hint of warmth in her voice.

Nina’s playful teasing made Autumn blush, and she quickly changed the subject. “Alright, enough about your brother. Are you hungry? Should we go grab something to eat?”

Nina, catching onto Autumn’s attempt to divert the conversation, feigned a wounded tone. “I knew it! You’re already taking his side. You don’t love me anymore!”

Autumn felt torn between laughter and concern.

“Then let me treat you to some food as an apology, okay?” she offered, trying to lighten the mood.

“The incredible Nina is so magnanimous, surely you can forgive me, right?”

Nina lifted her chin with mock pride. “Fine. I suppose I can reluctantly forgive you.”

**Cat Movie St**

Autumn erupted into laughter, the sound brightening the atmosphere around them.

Nina’s personality was genuinely infectious; even Autumn, who typically wasn’t one to tease, found herself wanting to poke fun at her sister-in-law.

“By the way, Nina, did you manage to sort out that internship at my friend’s company? Did you sign the contract?” Autumn inquired, her curiosity piqued.

At the mention of the internship, Nina’s body stiffened, her demeanor shifting instantly.

“You mean… Leo Rhodes?” she asked, her voice tinged with an unexpected tension.

Autumn noticed the change and immediately felt a pang of concern. “What’s wrong? Did he not agree to let you join?”

“Ahem, no, it’s not that…” Nina hesitated, searching for the right words.

“It’s just…”

No matter how hard she tried to avoid it, Nina found herself grappling with the memories of that night after they had gone out for drinks.

*I seriously regret this now.*

*I should never have taken Leo to that bar in the first place.*

*I had no idea the bartender there made the drinks that strong.*

*And I definitely didn’t expect that Leo and I would end up having a drunken one-night stand together in a hotel room.*

The thought of waking up next to him the next morning was too awkward to bear.

Leo had texted her a few times in the days that followed, but fear gripped her heart, preventing her from looking at or replying to his messages. She simply pretended he didn’t exist.

Naturally, the internship remained in limbo.

Who would dare to work for their boss after having slept with them in such an embarrassing manner?!

*He probably doesn’t want me as an intern anymore, right?*

*He probably thinks I’m some kind of promiscuous woman who just sleeps around.*

The thought made Nina’s heart sink, casting a shadow of disappointment across her features.

“Nina?” Autumn asked, breaking through Nina’s spiral of thoughts.

Autumn hadn’t anticipated such a peculiar reaction to a simple inquiry. She pulled out her phone, determination in her eyes. “Let me text him for you and see what’s up.”

As the words left her mouth, Nina’s heart raced. “Autumn—”

She felt as though her world was crumbling. Desperately, she lunged for the phone, but she was acutely aware that making a scene would only raise Autumn’s suspicions.

Nina nodded earnestly. “I know.”

From their conversation, it was clear that Leo didn’t view that night as a significant event at all.

It made sense; they were both adults, and there was no reason to dwell on it.

Besides, Nina was aware of Leo’s feelings for her sister-in-law, Autumn. Even though the chance of anything blossoming between them was nonexistent, Leo wouldn’t easily forget someone he cared about.

So, there was no reason for her to feel awkward about it. She should simply regard that night as just a fleeting encounter.

Nina swallowed the strange bitterness rising in her throat, turning her head away so Autumn wouldn’t see the redness in her eyes.

But Autumn’s concern remained palpable.

“Nina?”

Autumn was puzzled. Nina had once been so enthusiastic about breaking into the gaming industry. Now, not only was she being offered an internship, but she could also become a full-fledged concept artist and negotiate her own salary with the boss. Why then did she look so despondent?

This wasn’t the Nina Autumn knew.

“I’m fine, Autumn,” Nina replied, forcing a smile.

“It just feels a little surreal. I never thought this day would actually come,” she added, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

Autumn smiled warmly. “You’re incredibly talented. This is the position you deserve.”

“Didn’t Leo praise you last time too?”

Nina sensed that Autumn held Leo in high regard, and an idea sparked in her mind. She looked at Autumn curiously. “Autumn, did you… ever have feelings for your old friend from school?”

Autumn paused, taken aback by the sudden question.

After a moment of contemplation, she replied, “I think I probably did, back then.”

Autumn had always been drawn to ambitious and capable individuals.

She admired self-made entrepreneurs and viewed them as her idols, which was a significant reason why she had been so supportive of Mars Wright in the first place.

Fresh out of college, Mars had been a whirlwind of energy and ambition.

He might have lacked certain skills, but he was like a perpetual motion machine, always uplifting everyone’s spirits.

There were times when Autumn felt exhausted and wanted to give up, but Mars always knew precisely what to say to reignite her motivation.

Looking back now, however, her memories of Mars had taken on a more negative hue.

Autumn was uncertain whether he had genuinely been that bright and encouraging or if he had merely been trying to keep her engaged for his own benefit.

After all, if Mars hadn’t persistently pushed her to pursue her own business, whispering all sorts of encouragement in her ear, she might have actually given up and returned to inherit the Lopez Group.

“But Leo was just an old classmate to me, nothing more. I truly admire his relentless drive, but that’s where it ends. We’re not in the same field, so there wasn’t much else to discuss,” she concluded, her voice steady.

Nina nodded, absorbing her sister-in-law’s words.