The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 277

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

**The Show’s About to Begin**

Autumn understood Nina’s intentions were pure, so she swiftly grasped Owen’s hand, giving it a gentle shake to ease the tension. “It’s alright. Nina’s just looking out for me. Please don’t be too hard on her.”

Nina, instantly feeling a mix of relief and mischief, ducked behind Autumn, her lips forming a pout as she chimed in, “See? Autumn’s the one who’s nice to me.”

Owen shot her a pointed look, and Nina recoiled slightly, resembling a frightened little bird retreating from a storm. Autumn couldn’t suppress a chuckle at the sight.

The sound of her laughter brought a wave of relief to Owen, washing over him like a soothing balm. Yet, beneath that relief lay a tightening knot of frustration in his chest.

He could envision what Ava Henderson was scheming, even with his eyes closed. As a Bennett, he had witnessed such antics throughout his life, but he had never given them much thought. Now, however, it gnawed at him.

*Why are all these people so eager to do whatever it takes to win my hand in marriage? And yet, Autumn remains so composed, so unfazed by it all. Does she not love me? Is that why jealousy doesn’t seem to touch her?*

Owen recognized that he needed to be patient, to allow Autumn the time she required. But the nature of people was often greedy and impatient. Before he had fully expressed his feelings, he could bide his time without issue. But now, with their relationship having progressed, his discontent simmered just below the surface.

**The Show’s About to Begin**

“Owen?”

Nina waved her hand in front of his face, breaking through his reverie. “What’s got you so lost in thought all of a sudden?”

Owen shifted his gaze downward, meeting Autumn’s concerned eyes. “It’s nothing significant. Just something I need to handle for work,” he replied, attempting to brush off the moment.

“You two go ahead and explore. I have a call to make,” he added, giving Autumn’s hand a reassuring pat before turning away, his pace quickening as he left.

Autumn couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss with him, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

“Nina, don’t you think your cousin is acting a bit strange?” she inquired, her brow furrowing slightly.

“Huh? Owen?”

Nina paused, contemplating for a moment. Assuming Autumn meant that Owen was simply consumed by work, she grinned and recounted, “Oh, he’s always like this. There was one New Year’s Eve when we were all gathered for dinner, and halfway through, he suddenly declared he had to return to the office. Can you imagine the outrage? Everyone was furious!”

“Who would want to run off to a cold, empty office on New Year’s Eve? Of course they were upset,” Autumn replied, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Well, he did end up giving everyone substantial bonuses later, which finally placated them,” Nina added with a smirk.

Autumn could almost visualize the old, aloof version of Owen. When he was engrossed in work, he exuded an undeniable charm that was hard to ignore.

“Let’s not disturb him then. Come on,” she suggested, nudging Nina.

“Okay!”

**The Show’s About to Begin**

With their arms linked, the two girls strolled away, leaving behind the small crowd that had been waiting to greet Autumn. They had initially intended to approach her, but the antics of Ava and Ruby had stolen their opportunity, leading to a confrontation that made it awkward to approach afterward.

“Forget it. There will be other opportunities. Besides, let’s not lose sight of what today is truly about,” one of the onlookers remarked, exchanging knowing glances with the others.

“I never thought I’d see Owen Bennett do something like this,” another chimed in, the men sharing glances that spoke volumes.

The women present, privy to the underlying dynamics, wore expressions that were far more complex—some radiated envy, others were tinged with jealousy, and a few wore masks of disappointment and bitterness.

Yet, since this gathering was hosted at the Bennett estate, everyone maintained their decorum, behaving as expected. No one was foolish enough to mimic Ava and Ruby’s reckless behavior and walk directly into Owen’s line of sight.

Ruby’s brow furrowed in concern. “As long as those two are solid, you’ll never stand a chance.”

“Men love excitement. I doubt Owen has any genuine feelings for Autumn. He’s probably just being responsible because she’s pregnant,” Ava reasoned, a smug smile creeping onto her face.

“You still have a substantial opportunity,” Ruby conceded, though her words were tinged with skepticism.

As Ava’s confidence swelled, she proclaimed, “Of course I do. My status far surpasses Autumn’s. Why would Owen ever choose her? What could she possibly bring to the table?”

Ruby found Ava’s arrogance difficult to bear, but she couldn’t deny that Ava had a point.

She had done her homework. Autumn was capable and even owned her own business. But did the Bennetts truly need another money-maker?

What the Bennett family required was a poised matriarch, and it was clear that Autumn did not fit that mold.

A divorced woman attempting to become the lady of the Bennett house? The very thought was embarrassing.

“So, we just need to stick to the plan. And you need to rein in your impulsiveness,” Ruby warned. “That Nina girl… I don’t know what kind of hold Autumn has over her, but she’s utterly devoted to her. Nina’s a wild card, and we don’t want to provoke her. It’s wiser to keep our distance.”

Ava scoffed at the notion. “What else could it be? She knows Autumn is carrying Owen’s baby, so she’s just trying to ingratiate herself early.”

“Too bad for Nina. She’s betting on the wrong horse.”

“A woman like Autumn? No respectable, established family would even consider her. She will never become Mrs. Bennett,” Ava declared with finality.

While Ruby didn’t entirely agree, she chose to remain silent, grateful that they were finally on the same page.

“It’s about time. We should return to the party. Let’s go. I can hardly wait for this show to begin.”