The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 34

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace – by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 34**

Autumn Lopez sat at her desk, the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. “I’ve been chasing the Mistveil Group project for what feels like forever,” she began, her voice steady but the flicker of anxiety in her eyes betraying her true feelings. “Finally, after countless late nights and strategic networking, I secured it through a connection with the CEO’s wife.”

Yet, even as she spoke, a knot of worry tightened in her stomach. “But then there’s Mars Wright,” she continued, her tone shifting to a more somber note. “He was late to the contract signing, and the CEO of Mistveil Group was absolutely furious. Now, he’s searching for a new partner.” The gravity of the situation hung in the air, thickening the tension between them like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury.

Autumn chose not to dwell on Mars’s blunders. Instead, she offered a concise summary of the project, her brow furrowed with worry and frustration. “Honestly, I was never entirely confident while pitching this project to them in the first place,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile hope she clung to.

Cloudbreak was a well-established corporation, but it was marred by a significant flaw—an immature CEO. Mars Wright’s lack of maturity was a glaring issue that overshadowed the company’s potential like a dark shadow creeping over a sunny landscape.

The only reason Mars had managed to cling to his position as CEO was due to Autumn, his chief of staff, who bore the weight of more than half of his responsibilities. It was a well-known secret that the vast majority of his work was executed by her skilled hands, her dedication often going unnoticed.

As a result, Mars was far more incompetent than anyone dared to imagine. If Mistveil had signed the contract from the outset, Autumn wouldn’t have harbored any concerns. With her at the helm, she would have ensured that the partnership unfolded seamlessly, like a well-rehearsed dance.

However, Mistveil had hesitated far too long, and during that time, Autumn’s IVF treatment had finally succeeded. She was pregnant—an unexpected blessing that filled her with both joy and trepidation. The thought of nurturing a new life brought warmth to her heart, but it was also a source of anxiety, especially with the chaos swirling around her professional life.

Yet, the idea of leaving the company in Mars’s hands sent chills down her spine. She feared that without her guidance, the company would spiral into chaos, and Mars would falter in managing the Mistveil project. The thought of him fumbling through the partnership was enough to make her stomach churn.

As if to confirm her worst fears, he had already botched things up before the partnership had even begun. Autumn had been racking her brain for a solid solution—one that wouldn’t alert Mars but also wouldn’t jeopardize the crucial deal with Mistveil. Initially, her plan had been to meet with the person in charge at Mistveil, gauge their interest, and then recalibrate her strategy. But Mars’s recent behavior had been so revolting that she was done giving him any consideration.

More importantly, she had poured her heart and soul into making this deal a reality, and Ms. Ferguson, the wife of Mistveil’s CEO, had been a tremendous ally in her efforts. Autumn couldn’t bear the thought of this project collapsing and causing distress for Ms. Ferguson. She was a genuinely kind woman who had treated Autumn with nothing but respect and warmth, and the idea of disappointing her felt unbearable.

“Are you worried that if Mars discovers you’re maneuvering behind his back, it could complicate your divorce?” Owen Bennett’s voice cut through her thoughts, his perceptive gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race.

“Yes,” Autumn admitted, a sigh escaping her lips. There was no point in pretending otherwise. Mistveil Group already had a partnership with the Bennett Group, so she felt no fear of Owen attempting to steal the client. Besides, if he truly wanted to, there was little she could do to prevent him.

“Why don’t you just have Mistveil sign with you directly?” he suggested, his brow furrowing in thought, as if he were brainstorming solutions just for her.

Autumn hesitated, then offered a wry smile. “Of course, I considered that.” In truth, when she first agreed to assist Mars in salvaging the project, her underlying intention had been to commandeer it for herself. But the more she pondered it, the more daunting the task appeared.

“Mistveil was already hesitant to collaborate with Cloudbreak. If they look down on a company like Cloudbreak, what makes you think they’d even glance at my nearly bankrupt Lopez Group?” she questioned, her voice laced with frustration, her insecurities bubbling to the surface.

Owen studied her intently for a long moment before suddenly declaring, “I’ll help you.”

Autumn blinked in surprise. “How can you help me?”

Instead of explaining, Owen pulled out his phone and dialed a number. Autumn’s curiosity piqued as she wondered who he was reaching out to. She was taken aback when she heard him say, “Mr. Parker? This is Owen Bennett.”

Her eyes widened in astonishment. Mr. Parker? Isn’t that the CEO of Mistveil Group? What on earth is Owen doing?

Before she could fully process her thoughts, Owen addressed the partnership matter directly, stating plainly that he hoped Mr. Parker would award the project to the Lopez Group, as he intended to invest in them.

Even through the phone, Autumn could hear the surprise in Mr. Parker’s voice. “Mr. Bennett is investing in the Lopez Group? Why is that?”

“I can’t disclose the details right now, but you’ll understand in a month,” Owen replied confidently, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

A month? The implications of that statement washed over Autumn like a wave.

As understanding dawned on her, she felt her cheeks flush with a mixture of embarrassment and disbelief. She had always believed that in the cutthroat world of business, one had to rely on genuine ability rather than mere connections. And now, here she was, becoming the very person she had once looked down upon. The realization hit her like a boomerang, and she felt the sting of irony settle deep within her.

“Alright, then it’s settled. The head of the Lopez Group will be there tomorrow to finalize the contract with your team,” Owen concluded, his voice firm and decisive.

“It’s been a pleasure doing business with you,” he added, hanging up the phone with a sense of finality that left Autumn in a daze.

As she stood there, something cool yet soft brushed against her forehead. She looked up in surprise, only to find that it had slid down from her forehead, grazed the bridge of her nose, and finally landed on her lips.

In that fleeting moment, their eyes locked, and they stared at each other, wide-eyed and breathless.

Wait… hold on!

Are Owen and I…?

Autumn’s eyes flew open, shock rendering her momentarily paralyzed. She forgot to push him away, and it was Owen who released her first, breaking the spell.

The atmosphere in the hospital room shifted, thick with an unspoken tension that crackled in the air. Autumn felt the spots where his lips had brushed against her skin flush with heat, as if she had been caught in a sudden allergic reaction.

She wanted to touch her lips, to confirm what had just happened, but doing so felt too obvious. Instead, she stood there rigidly, a voice in her head screaming, “Save me, save me, save me…”

If she had known that her inner thoughts would escape her lips so easily, she would have kept her mouth shut and continued silently cursing that bastard Mars in her mind!

Argh, this is all his fault!

If it weren’t for Mars and his schemes, she would never have found herself entangled with Owen, and she certainly wouldn’t be in this socially awkward predicament right now!

With that thought racing through her mind, Autumn quickly clamped her hands over her mouth, desperate to prevent any further embarrassing revelations. She couldn’t let any more of these thoughts slip out; otherwise, she would never be able to face Owen again.

In the aftermath of the unexpected kiss, Autumn found herself standing on the precipice of two worlds: the chaotic realm of her professional life, where she had tirelessly fought for the Mistveil project, and the burgeoning emotions that stirred within her, ignited by Owen’s unexpected kindness. The weight of her fears regarding Mars and the uncertainties of her impending motherhood began to intertwine with the thrill of this new connection. As she grappled with the implications of her feelings for Owen, Autumn realized that her journey was not just about securing a future for her child but also about embracing the possibility of happiness and partnership. The warmth of Owen’s embrace lingered on her skin, a stark contrast to the cold anxiety that had gripped her for so long, and for the first time, she felt a flicker of hope ignite within her.

With the contract with Mistveil looming on the horizon and the complexities of her life spiraling around her, Autumn understood that she had a choice to make. She could continue to navigate the treacherous waters of her career alone, burdened by the insecurities and doubts that had plagued her, or she could allow herself to lean into the support that Owen offered. The irony of her situation was not lost on her—she had always prided herself on her independence and ability to succeed without relying on others, yet here she was, faced with the reality that sometimes, allowing others in could lead to unexpected joy and peace. As she took a deep breath, Autumn resolved to chase not only the light of her professional aspirations but also the warmth of human connection that had begun to bloom in her life, realizing that both were essential in her quest for peace.