The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 276

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

Nina offered a subtle nod, her mind swirling with thoughts.

“Leo is truly an extraordinary individual,” she remarked, a hint of admiration lacing her voice.

“He really is,” Autumn agreed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“Nina, once you step into his company, make it your mission to absorb every ounce of knowledge he has to offer,” Autumn encouraged, her tone earnest.

“He possesses a myriad of remarkable qualities that will undoubtedly enhance your journey.”

“I understand,” Nina replied, her determination evident.

Taking Autumn’s hand in hers, she declared, “Alright, Autumn, let’s shift the conversation. We can find a quieter spot to sit.”

Autumn nodded in agreement, grateful for the distraction. As they turned to leave, they unexpectedly collided with Ava Henderson and Ruby Bennett, an encounter that sent a chill down Autumn’s spine.

In that fleeting moment, as their gazes locked, Autumn couldn’t help but notice the unmasked hostility in Ava’s eyes.

It was as if Ava had already labeled her as a rival, an enemy without ever having exchanged a word.

Autumn felt a strange mix of emotions—should she laugh at the absurdity or weep over the pettiness?

All of this animosity, sparked by a man, highlighted Ava’s immaturity.

“Let’s move on,” Autumn urged, her voice firm as she attempted to steer Nina away from the confrontation.

But Ava, oblivious to their intentions, blocked their path with an air of arrogance. “Hold on a second,” she called out, her tone dripping with condescension.

The moment Ava opened her mouth, Nina instinctively transformed into a protective figure, akin to a mother hen shielding her chick.

With her arms spread wide, she positioned herself in front of Autumn. Her gaze swept over Ava, assessing her like a wary predator. “What do you want?” she demanded, her voice laced with hostility.

Ava’s expression darkened, her demeanor shifting from casual to confrontational.

“What could I possibly want?” she replied, forcing a tight smile that barely concealed her irritation. “I merely wished to greet Ms. Lopez.”

“Ms. Lopez?” Nina’s voice dripped with sarcasm as she twisted the knife deeper. “I believe you mean Mrs. Bennett. After all, that’s a done deal, isn’t it?”

Ava’s eyes narrowed, her fingers gripping her handbag with such intensity that it seemed the leather might give way under the pressure.

“Nina, why must you always be so sarcastic with Ava?” Ruby Bennett chimed in, her voice attempting to soothe the escalating tension. “Our families are intertwined, remember? Weren’t you two the best of friends in your childhood?”

While they weren’t blood relatives, the history between their families ran deep. They had indeed shared a connection since their early years, a bond that was more familiar than with most others.

Ruby’s assertion held some truth, but Nina’s patience was wearing thin.

“Oh, you mean that time she swiped my toy, refused to return it, and then ran to tell my mom, which led to my punishment?” Nina retorted, her voice rising with indignation.

Their mothers were sisters, a fact that complicated the dynamics of their childhood squabbles. Ruby, being a Bennett, was acutely aware that her own mother couldn’t side with her sister in a family feud.

To shield her sister from embarrassment, Nina’s mother had swiftly punished her before Mrs. Bennett could intervene, solidifying the rift between the two girls.

“Do you still remember that?” Ruby asked, a tinge of embarrassment creeping into her tone. “That was ages ago. You’re an adult now, Nina. Why cling to such a trivial grudge?”

“Perhaps you should suggest that to Ava,” Nina shot back, her voice sharp.

“Doesn’t she realize my cousin is already engaged? Yet there she is, shamelessly throwing herself at him. Is she trying to play the role of the other woman?”

“Are the Hendersons really that desperate? Why are they so fixated on someone else’s fiancé?”

Nina’s voice grew louder, her frustration spilling over.

Curiosity piqued, a few onlookers began to gather, drawn by the rising tension.

“What’s happening here?” Owen Bennett approached, his expression shifting as he noticed Autumn first.

Autumn offered him a reassuring smile, her voice soft as she said, “It’s nothing, really.”

However, as Owen turned his attention to Ava, the venom in her expression vanished, replaced by a forced smile that failed to reach her eyes.

Owen, oblivious to Ava’s charm offensive, focused solely on Autumn, his gaze warm and inviting.

Nina wasted no time recounting the encounter, her voice filled with indignation.

Though Ava had built a façade of respectability, her true nature was far from virtuous.

Abroad, she had often wielded her status like a weapon, using it to intimidate others.

Rumors circulated that she had bullied an international student to the point of causing her to drop out of college, a student who had been the pride of her village. After failing to meet expectations, the girl had returned home, overwhelmed by shame, and tragically ended her own life.

Ava, with her privileged background and fleeting connection to the Bennetts, had once been a contender for many affluent families, but background checks had swiftly eliminated her from consideration.

A daughter-in-law for a prestigious family didn’t need to be exceptionally talented, but she had to embody grace and humility—qualities Ava sorely lacked.

“Mrs. Henderson, I suggest you take your daughter and allow her some time to cool off,” Owen stated calmly, his voice steady as he addressed the situation.

He chose not to comment on the unfolding drama, opting instead to maintain a level head.

“Ms. Henderson could benefit from a little space,” he added, his tone firm yet composed.

Ava, humiliated before so many, felt a tempest of emotions—anger, hurt, but mostly rage.

She yearned for retribution against Nina, but the weight of the crowd’s scrutiny left her feeling exposed. With a hasty glance at Ruby, she grabbed her arm and retreated behind a servant, eager to escape the spotlight.

As soon as they slipped away, the chatter intensified, a wave of speculation washing over the gathering.

Nina caught snippets of the conversation, her curiosity piqued. “Wow, I wonder what other secrets Ava is hiding?”

“She’s terrifying, isn’t she? She appears so prim and proper, but beneath the surface, she’s a monster,” someone whispered, their voice laced with disbelief.

Owen shot Nina a pointed look, a mix of concern and admonition.

“That’s enough,” he warned, his tone serious.

“I asked you to keep your sister-in-law company so she could mingle, not to stir up trouble. You know how Ava can be. What if things escalated and Autumn got caught in the crossfire? Who would be accountable then?”

Nina recognized the truth in his words, a playful pout forming on her lips. “Alright, Owen. I promise it won’t happen again.”

And with that, the tension slowly diffused, but the undercurrents of rivalry and unspoken animosity lingered in the air, a reminder of the complexities that lay beneath the surface of their seemingly glamorous lives.