The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 38

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

The force of her words hit Mars with an intensity he couldn’t ignore, like a thunderclap reverberating through the very air he breathed.

As he stood there, the weight of guilt pressed down on him, gnawing at his insides with a relentless grip. But then, the harsh reality of his own physical shortcomings crashed into his thoughts, overshadowing everything else. Suddenly, the thought of Lydia’s accusations felt almost trivial in the grand scheme of his turmoil.

“Enough!” he snapped, his voice taut with frustration, “Don’t just storm in here and start losing your mind over me!”

Mars was a chaotic storm of emotions. The vivid recollection of that woman in the private room, her voice slicing through the air as she screamed, sent a sharp pain radiating through his temples. It felt as though the walls were closing in on him, and now Lydia had entered the scene, adding fuel to the fire. The weight of it all made him yearn for Autumn more than he ever thought possible.

If only Autumn were here; she would never unleash such chaos.

She had always been the calm amidst the storm, consistently thoughtful and unwaveringly supportive. No matter the circumstances, Autumn had a knack for protecting his reputation, ensuring that the world only saw the best version of him.

She often reminded him that a man’s reputation was his lifeline—it shaped his career, influenced friendships, and affected family dynamics. Autumn had always been willing to step back when necessary, believing that if Mars succeeded, she would too.

Back then, he had brushed off her words, thinking she was merely trying to curry favor with him. He had taken her for granted, viewing her as someone to look down upon at times. But now, he found himself fully grasping just how remarkable Autumn truly was.

“You think I’m losing my mind?” Lydia’s voice sliced through his reverie, filled with indignation.

In stark contrast to the savvy, street-smart Autumn, Lydia struck him as nothing more than an irrational, overly dramatic individual.

“How dare you accuse me of freaking out?” she retorted, her eyes blazing with fury.

“Mars, have I been too good to you lately? How could you even say that to me!”

“Have you forgotten the promise you made to me? You liar!”

Lydia’s accusations only served to heighten Mars’s agitation. In a fit of rage, he swept his arm across the bedside table, sending everything crashing to the floor.

Glass bottles and containers shattered, the sound reverberating through the room like a thunderclap.

“Ah-!” Lydia shrieked, her voice laced with shock.

“Shut up!” he barked, his temper flaring.

But Lydia was far from finished. The mere thought of Mars being with another woman ignited a fresh wave of fury within her. She was determined to extract a confession from him—he had to admit his wrongdoing, apologize, and vow that it would never happen again.

With a defiant lift of her chin, she glared back at him. “Make me! You promised that if I was with you, you’d give me anything I wanted. And how long has it been since you kept your word?”

“I made it abundantly clear. I was willing to be with you under the condition that you wouldn’t see any other women, and that you wouldn’t be nice to Autumn anymore,” he replied, his voice steady yet strained.

“But look at you! How many of those promises have you actually honored?”

“Mars, you go on and on about how much you love me. Is this what your love looks like?”

Tears streamed down Lydia’s cheeks, a sight that usually tugged at Mars’s heartstrings.

Yet, with her biting words still echoing in his mind, he struggled to summon even a hint of sympathy.

He had just been publicly humiliated, branded as a limp noodle!

For any man, that was the ultimate affront.

And to think his… function was still absent, with no sign of improvement. Would he ever return to being a normal man? And all Lydia could focus on was her own grievances?

“Enough!” he shouted, his eyes narrowing as he glared at her.

“If you’re so unhappy, then you can just leave.”

“I never begged you to stay with me,” she shot back, her voice trembling with disbelief.

The words hung in the air, and for a fleeting moment, Mars felt a flicker of regret wash over him.

He was acutely aware of his feelings for Lydia, and he knew that lashing out in anger would only serve to further fracture their already tenuous relationship.

He pressed his lips together, choosing silence over further conflict.

Seizing the opportunity to soften the moment, Lydia lunged forward, burying her face against his waist as sobs wracked her body.

Mars instinctively wrapped his arms around her, and just like that, the explosive argument fizzled into an uneasy truce.

He lifted her onto the bed, and they settled into each other’s warmth. The atmosphere shifted, transforming into one of fragile serenity.

Yet, Lydia remained anxious, worried that Mars still harbored genuine anger toward her. She adopted an exceptionally sweet and demure demeanor, which, in turn, helped to dissolve most of Mars’s own lingering frustration.

“How did you even find out I was in the hospital?” he asked, curiosity piqued.

Anyone who worked for him, provided they had a shred of common sense, would have known to keep this information under wraps.

He had already been late once; he couldn’t afford to let that happen again.

At the mention of the alarm, a spark of inspiration ignited in Lydia’s eyes.

The only reason Mars held Autumn in such high regard was due to her competence, right?

What if Autumn were to falter on this deal?

Lydia refused to believe that any company would choose to partner with Cloudbreak Corporation solely because of Autumn’s influence.

In her mind, Autumn was merely leveraging Cloudbreak’s reputation to elevate her own status.

If that were the case, why should she allow Autumn to secure another victory?

She could easily wait for Autumn to stumble on the deal again and then swoop in to save the day.

When Mars witnessed her talent then, he would undoubtedly rely on her even more!

With that thought swirling in her mind, Lydia switched off the alarm she had just set.

And so, the following day, Mars made a spectacular repeat performance of being late.

Shame washed over him as he realized he had overslept yet again.

Panic surged within him as he opened his phone to find a slew of missed calls and text messages.

When he finally burst into the Cloudbreak offices, he caught sight of Autumn emerging from the conference room, laughter spilling from her lips as she chatted with the representative from the other party.

Mars’s eyes widened in disbelief. Had it really been finalized?

In the aftermath of the tumultuous confrontation, Mars found himself standing at a crossroads, grappling with the weight of his emotions. The chaos of the argument had given way to a fragile peace, but the underlying tensions still simmered beneath the surface. As he held Lydia close, he could feel the warmth of her presence, yet the shadows of his past mistakes loomed large. The realization that he had taken Autumn’s unwavering support for granted struck him with a sense of urgency. It was clear that he needed to confront not only his physical struggles but also the emotional turmoil that had clouded his judgment. The fleeting moments of clarity he experienced in Lydia’s embrace reminded him that love should not be measured by superficial promises but rather by the depth of understanding and compassion shared between two people.

As the day unfolded, Mars’s heart raced with anxiety over the impending contract signing, but it was the sight of Autumn’s laughter that truly shook him. Her effortless confidence illuminated the room, and for the first time, he recognized the strength she had always possessed. In that moment, he felt a pang of regret for the way he had treated her, realizing that his insecurities had blinded him to the support she had offered. The juxtaposition of Lydia’s desperation for his approval and Autumn’s quiet resilience served as a stark reminder of the choices that lay ahead. Mars understood that healing would require more than just physical recovery; it would demand an honest reckoning with his past and a commitment to nurturing the relationships that mattered most. As he prepared to step into the conference room, he resolved to embrace the light of truth and vulnerability, hoping to forge a path toward redemption and, ultimately, peace.

In the next chapter of “Chasing Light, Finding Peace,” readers can expect the tension between Mars and Lydia to reach new heights as the consequences of their previous arguments unfold. With the contract signing looming, Mars is faced with the dual pressure of his professional obligations and the emotional turmoil of his relationship with Lydia. The lingering doubts about his physical condition will haunt him, forcing him to confront not only his feelings for Lydia but also his unresolved attachment to Autumn. As he grapples with these complexities, the stakes will rise, leading to decisions that could irrevocably alter his relationships and career.

Moreover, the dynamic between Mars and Autumn will take center stage as he witnesses her success in securing the deal without him. The unexpected twist of Autumn’s competence will challenge Mars’s perception of both women in his life, leading to a deeper exploration of loyalty, ambition, and the fragility of trust. Will Mars find the courage to confront his feelings for Autumn, or will he continue to be ensnared by Lydia’s manipulations? As the chapter unfolds, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eager to discover how Mars navigates this intricate web of emotions and whether he can ultimately find peace amidst the chaos.