The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 36

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

**Chapter 36**

Mars Wright shot a piercing look at the man seated across from him, irritation simmering just beneath the surface. “Do you really think it’s a simple task to recover deleted security footage? Owen definitely brought in someone top-tier for that job. The footage has been completely wiped. Restoring it will be a Herculean effort, so all we can do is wait it out.”

The young man, clad in designer threads and sporting a lazy grin, raised his glass in a mock toast, a smirk dancing on his lips. “You’ve got some serious patience, Mars. Still hung up on Autumn, huh? Why else would you go through all this trouble for that footage?”

Mars felt his lips tighten into a thin line, a wave of annoyance washing over him.

“This isn’t about Autumn,” he retorted, his voice sharper than he had intended.

A moment of silence enveloped the group, surprise etched on their faces, but soon their expressions transformed into one of understanding.

“Right, so you’re trying to piece together why Owen Bennett turned up at the club that night, aren’t you?”

Mars grunted in agreement, his mind racing with tangled thoughts.

He and Owen existed in entirely different worlds, leagues apart in every conceivable way. Despite his own ascent to power, the chasm between them felt insurmountable.

Mars had tasted the sweet nectar of influence, and he wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.

This could very well be his only chance to forge a connection with Owen.

Letting this go would haunt him indefinitely.

“Mars, have you ever thought about just asking Autumn directly?”

Caught off guard, Mars paused, his mind racing.

“What would I even ask her? She was stuck in the bathroom. There’s no way she could have known what was happening outside,” he replied, bewilderment creeping into his voice.

“But didn’t the deleted footage coincide with her time in the bathroom?”

The guy pressed on, “It’s too coincidental. That was the only footage that vanished, which suggests Autumn might have crossed paths with Owen. Otherwise, why would the footage of her leaving the club disappear too?”

A spark of realization ignited in Mars’s mind as he leapt to his feet, adrenaline surging through him.

“You’re absolutely right!”

They had all overlooked that crucial detail, assuming Autumn had just miraculously escaped the bathroom on her own.

But now, with the timeline in mind, it all started to make sense. Owen had arrived and left in a rush. Could it be that Autumn, in her frantic flight, had inadvertently bumped into him? Perhaps that was why the notoriously prickly Owen had stormed off without a backward glance.

The more he contemplated it, the more plausible it became. An overwhelming urgency surged within him.

“I’m going to find Autumn and ask her!”

His friends quickly intercepted him, concern etched on their faces.

“Are you kidding? Mars always picks up the tab when we go out. If you leave now, who’s going to pay?”

“Dude, aren’t you and Autumn heading to the office together tomorrow? Just ask her then.”

“Yeah, yeah, asking her tomorrow is just as valid,” they chimed in, successfully coaxing Mars into staying put.

Mars reveled in the feeling of being needed, the admiration from his friends fueling his ego. A smile broke across his face. “Alright, I’ll ask her tomorrow.”

After all, it wasn’t like Autumn could just vanish. The security footage was being restored, and he was determined to uncover the truth one way or another.

“Order whatever you want! Tonight’s on me!”

The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement palpable.

“You’re the man, Mars!”

“You’re a legend, Mars!”

The praise washed over him like a warm wave, and Mars felt his confidence swell. He raised his glass high and declared, “I’m about to land a major project tomorrow! You guys have been my ride-or-dies for years. Don’t worry, as long as I’ve got food on my plate, I’ll make damn sure you never go hungry!”

The cheers grew even more thunderous, nearly shaking the very foundations of the VIP room.

“Mars, since we’re all feeling so good, why don’t we invite some people over to spice things up?”

Mars considered Lydia for a moment, hesitation creeping in.

Lydia was nothing like Autumn. She thrived on chaos and had a famously fiery temper.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify