The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 39

**TITLE: Chasing Light, Finding Peace – by Rohan Verma**
**Chapter 39**

“Autumn!”

Mars Wright’s expression brightened as he hurried toward Autumn Lopez, his hand instinctively reaching out, ready to encircle her waist in a gesture that had become second nature to him.

Yet, in a swift and deliberate motion, Autumn sidestepped him, a subtle yet unmistakable signal that she was not in the mood for affection.

The warmth that had danced on Mars’s face faltered, confusion and annoyance flashing across his features like a storm brewing on the horizon.

He shot her a look that blended disbelief with irritation, his pride momentarily stung. Just as he was about to voice his frustration, a representative from Mistveil Group approached, his demeanor cheerful and buoyant, effectively diverting Mars’s attention from the awkward moment.

“Hello, hello!” the representative exclaimed, his voice ringing with enthusiasm.

“Is the contract all signed?” Mars inquired, his tone shifting to a more professional curiosity, masking the turmoil within him.

The representative nodded vigorously, a broad smile spreading across his face. “Yes, as of today, Mistveil Group and the Lopez Group will be close partners.”

In an instant, the joy that had briefly rekindled in Mars’s expression dissipated like mist under the sun.

“What? The Lopez Group?” he exclaimed, incredulity lacing his voice. “Isn’t Mistveil supposed to be signing with us, with Cloudbreak Corporation?”

Until that very moment, the intricacies of Autumn’s discussions with the Mistveil representative had been tightly held secrets, confined to the walls of the meeting room.

Yet, Mars’s outburst echoed throughout the space, drawing the attention of every pair of eyes present.

“Isn’t this a Cloudbreak project? How on earth did it morph into a Lopez Group venture?” he demanded, his tone a volatile mix of confusion and fury.

“What do you think happened?” a voice chimed in, dripping with sarcasm. “Someone’s been pulling strings behind the scenes. I’ve heard tales of women redirecting their husbands’ wealth back to their families, but this? This is a whole new level. Secretary Autumn is truly remarkable.”

Autumn’s gaze snapped to the source of the comment, her heart sinking.

It was a junior secretary from the Executive Office, a girl who had always seemed to harbor a crush on Mars.

Autumn remembered her vividly—the way the young woman had cast longing glances at Mars since her first day.

After all, Mars was not only young and handsome but also the brilliant mind behind Cloudbreak’s monumental success. It was no wonder that he attracted the attention of ambitious girls like her.

During her probation, the junior secretary had played the role of the observant admirer, gathering intel on Mars’s likes and dislikes without ever daring to overstep.

But once her probation was up, her true colors began to show.

By that point, she was fully aware of the connection between Mars and Autumn, yet she had grown bold. There was that one instance when Autumn and Mars were preparing to leave for a business dinner, and the junior secretary had feigned a sprained ankle, pleading with Mars to drop her off first.

Even though Mars had seen right through her ruse, he still allowed her to enter the car.

Emboldened, she insisted on sitting in the front passenger seat, claiming she felt nauseous.

Autumn’s patience had reached its breaking point. In a moment of frustration, she had yanked the secretary out of the car and slapped her across the face.

Mars, who had been a silent observer, merely chuckled and said, “She’s just a kid. Why are you so worked up?”

Turning to the junior secretary, he added, “Secretary Autumn and I have an important dinner. I can’t take you home. Just call an Uber. You can expense it tomorrow. Cloudbreak treats its employees well, so don’t worry about it.”

After that incident, the junior secretary had fallen even harder for Mars, her infatuation growing stronger. The fallout led to Autumn giving Mars the cold shoulder for an entire week, a silence that only broke when Mars finally decided to transfer the junior secretary to a less prominent department.

Now, Autumn narrowed her eyes, confusion mingling with frustration. “I thought Luna Ferguson was transferred,” she said, her brow furrowing in disbelief. “Why is she back in the Executive Office?”

The other employees shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze as if it were a hot flame. Faced with Autumn’s evident displeasure, no one dared to respond.

Mars’s complexion paled, disbelief casting a shadow across his features. “I’m asking you why the contract was signed with the Lopez Group! Autumn, why are you deflecting?”

“This was supposed to be a partnership between Mistveil and Cloudbreak. Even if you wanted to support your family’s business, this is not how you do it!”

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