The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 280

**Don’t Hold Back**

In the midst of an idyllic gathering, where laughter mingled with the soft strains of music, an unexpected shout shattered the serene atmosphere, sending ripples of tension through the crowd.

*Now this* was the kind of drama that stirred the soul!

Respecting the prestigious Bennett family’s celebration, and particularly because Autumn Lopez was on the verge of becoming Mrs. Bennett, no one dared to overtly indulge in their curiosity. Instead, they exchanged furtive glances, anticipation crackling in the air as they awaited the unfolding spectacle.

Ruby Bennett wore a forced smile that barely concealed the storm brewing inside her.

She had been seething with rage just moments ago when Owen had proposed to Autumn, the shock of it all hitting her like a cold wave. No one had bothered to inform her that Owen’s gathering was not merely a social event but a public declaration to their entire elite circle.

The revelation left Ruby reeling, her resentment for Autumn swelling like an uncontainable tide.

What kind of enchantment did this divorcée weave around him, compelling him to take such a monumental step?

In that moment, Ruby felt a flicker of relief at having coordinated plans with Ava Henderson beforehand.

The thought of watching Autumn bask in her triumph—gloating all the way to the finish line—was almost too much to bear. She feared that if she remained there, she might just lose her composure entirely.

“Ava—”

Ruby felt a rush of excitement bubbling within her. With the impending drama, she yearned to share her exhilaration with Ava.

However, when she turned her head, she was met with the unsettling realization that Ava had seemingly vanished into thin air.

“How odd, where could she have gone?”

Ruby scanned the crowd, her heart racing as she inquired with a few acquaintances, only to be met with blank stares and head shakes—no one had seen Ava.

One perceptive individual leaned in and remarked, “Perhaps she slipped away to the restroom.”

Ruby frowned at the insinuation, irritation flaring within her.

“Mr. Bell, that’s a bit excessive. Ava may think highly of Owen, but she’s not that shallow.”

In front of the gathering, Ruby felt the need to defend Ava’s character.

If this gossip were to spread, it could tarnish Ava’s reputation beyond repair.

“Haha, whatever you say,” Mr. Bell chuckled, turning his attention to someone else, dismissing Ruby entirely.

Ruby’s blood boiled at his nonchalance, but she felt powerless to confront him.

Blaming Ava’s sudden disappearance, she pulled out her phone, hoping to reach her friend.

Running off in the middle of a party—Ava was truly a handful!

“We’re sorry, the person you are calling is not available at this time.”

Ruby’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Not even answering her phone?

What on earth was Ava thinking?

Fury bubbled within Ruby, but she couldn’t abandon the event at such a pivotal moment. With no other option, she sought out a servant from the Bennett family, requesting assistance in locating Ava before shifting her focus back to the unfolding drama not far away.

As the chaos began to unfold, Mars Wright stumbled into the courtyard, his presence like a dark cloud hovering over the festivities.

Owen, who was engaged in conversation with his parents nearby, felt his expression darken at the sight of Mars.

He hadn’t invited Mars to this occasion; in fact, given their starkly different social circles, Mars shouldn’t have even known about the Bennett family’s gathering.

Yet here he was, crashing the party.

Owen wasn’t naive; he understood that someone was deliberately stirring the pot.

“Mom, Dad, I’ll take care of this,” he assured his parents, determination etched on his face as he strode toward Autumn.

The moment Autumn spotted Mars, a sense of dread washed over her.

She knew this was no coincidence; someone had orchestrated this confrontation.

Instead of reacting immediately, she allowed her gaze to sweep over the guests, searching for familiar faces.

Though Ava was conspicuously absent, her instincts told her this was their doing.

After all, she hardly recognized most of the attendees today.

Those individuals had no motive to target her.

Only Ava and Ruby had a history with her, a history fraught with tension.

Moreover, Ava had her eyes set on the coveted ‘Mrs. Bennett’ title. If she could tarnish Autumn’s reputation, her own chances of claiming that title would soar.

“Autumn, are you alright?”

Nina, concerned for Autumn’s well-being, gently patted her back, fearing the emotional strain might affect the baby. “Let me handle this scumbag.”

Autumn placed a calming hand on Nina’s arm.

“It’s okay.”

Anyone who delved into her past would uncover the tumultuous history she shared with Mars.

It was not a secret she could easily conceal.

Since they had chosen this day for Mars to create a scene, their intention was to humiliate her in front of high society.

But Autumn was resolute; she wouldn’t allow them to succeed.

Owen had treated her with such kindness, offering her a sense of safety among the onlookers.

The last thing she wanted was for him to become a laughingstock because of her past.

“I can handle this myself.”

As Owen approached, Autumn smiled at him, her heart swelling. “What are you doing here?”

“You should be with your parents,” he replied, his brow furrowing with concern.

Seeing Autumn maintain her composure brought him a wave of relief. He wrapped his arm around her waist, grounding her. “You just accepted my proposal. Of course, I’m going to face this with you.”

“Besides, this is a lapse in our security.”

If someone hadn’t been scheming, there was no way Mars could have infiltrated the Bennett villa.

“Don’t hold back,” Autumn said softly, her voice a soothing balm, yet her words held an edge of steel.

“He asked for this.”

Owen immediately grasped her meaning.

After Mars’s provocations, if he had simply kept a low profile, none of this would have happened.

But he chose to push his luck, crashing the party to stir trouble.

Autumn was not one to be trifled with. Previously, she had wished to part on amicable terms, refraining from seeking revenge, waiting instead for him to self-destruct.

Since he was clearly bored with his comfortable life, she had no qualms about giving him a little push.

This was precisely what Owen adored about Autumn—her seemingly gentle demeanor masked an iron will.

She was kind, beautiful, and graceful, yet she never hesitated to repay every slight.

“Whatever you say.”

Their shared smile was a moment of unity amidst the chaos.

Mars rushed over just in time to witness the sight that pierced him like a dagger. His face contorted with rage as he unleashed his fury.

“Autumn Lopez!”

“How can you be so shameless?”

“It’s been mere months since our divorce, and you’re already shacking up with another man?”

Autumn raised an eyebrow, her tone light yet biting as she retorted, “What was I supposed to do? Grieve for you for the rest of my life?”

“You wish.”

Mars choked, disbelief etched across his features as he stared at the sharp-tongued woman before him. The memory of the sweet, gentle Autumn he once knew seemed to fade away.

“Autumn, you were seeing Owen Bennett all along, weren’t you?”

“You figured he had more money than I did, so you found a way to switch the embryo samples and get pregnant with his child.”

“Who do you think you are? The protagonist of this entire world? Do you believe everyone is meant to revolve around you?”

“I’ve made myself abundantly clear. We are divorced and have nothing to do with each other anymore. If you harass me again, I won’t hesitate to take action.”

Mars’s face shifted from pale to red and back again, the humiliation he felt at the birthday party now magnified.

He realized there was truly no chance of winning Autumn back.

His lips trembled, and he looked at her, desperate to say something, but no words emerged.

“Get lost already. What are you doing standing here making a fool of yourself? Do you have any idea what kind of event this is?”

Nina could no longer contain her disdain.

She loathed men like Mars. Had Autumn not intervened, she would have stormed over and slapped him hard across the face.

Trash like him should serve as a warning to others; his very existence was an eyesore.

“What kind of event?”

The repeated blows had taken their toll on Mars.

Hearing Nina’s words, he snapped his head up, bloodshot eyes wide with rage.

Suddenly, he erupted into laughter, a manic sound that sent shivers through the crowd.

Everyone took a step back, their expressions reflecting pure disgust.

Owen Bennett frowned, calling for security to remove Mars from the premises.

But when Mars heard Owen’s voice, he turned to face him, a deranged grin spreading across his face.

“Owen Bennett. Mr. Bennett, the illustrious heir to the Bennett Group. How does it feel to be cleaning up my sloppy seconds?”

The moment those words left his mouth, the expressions of the entire Bennett family darkened.

Nina cursed under her breath, ready to charge at him with fury.

“Go ahead, hit me!”

“Come on, hit me right here!”

Mars, now completely deranged, pointed to his temple with a triumphant gleam in his eye. “You’d better hit me hard. That way, everyone will know what kind of people the Bennetts really are!”

“Owen Bennett, everyone says you’re so high and mighty, completely untouchable. But here you are, picking up the woman I discarded!”

“I remember now! You were the one who saved Autumn from that clubhouse that day, weren’t you? Hahaha, who would have thought the legendary, formidable Mr. Bennett would fall head over heels for a divorcée!”

“Do you know how many years Autumn and I spent together?”

“Do you know we did everything a couple could possibly do?”

“Do you know she was so desperate to have my child that she was ready to undergo IVF?”

With each word Mars uttered, the murmurs in the crowd grew louder.

Autumn felt as if she were frozen in place, the manic expression on Mars’s face dragging her down with him. For the first time, a wave of profound regret washed over her.

While she had initially been resentful and unwilling to confront the reality of Mars’s affair, Autumn wasn’t the type to cling to the past.

She understood that holding onto bitterness would only complicate her life further.

So, she had let it go quickly, casting aside the burdens that threatened her peace and focusing on carving out her own path, determined not to let toxic people or events dictate her mood.

But she never expected Mars to humiliate her in this way.

Their relationship had started off normally, and Autumn didn’t believe her failed marriage was some shameful secret to be aired in public.

Yet here was Mars, using the most derisive tone imaginable, laying bare their private life before the Bennett family and countless others. Each word struck like a slap, landing harshly on Owen’s pride.

Autumn felt panic rise within her, her heart racing with guilt. She couldn’t bear to look at Owen’s expression, terrified of what he might think.

Owen, the golden boy who seemed to have it all, was now being dragged into the muck because of her past.

What would the Bennett family think of her after such a spectacle?

And Owen… how would he perceive her now?