The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4

A fresh house, a fresh beginning.

The gated community exuded a quiet elegance, its calm atmosphere a subtle display of understated wealth.

Autumn Lopez had been delayed, and by the time she finally arrived, the night had already deepened into its later hours.

Despite the late hour, the lights inside the house blazed brightly, casting a warm glow through the windows.

As she pushed open the front door, a woman, slightly older with a gentle and welcoming expression, stepped forward with a warm smile.

Behind her, a line of staff members stood patiently.

“You must be Autumn. Come on in quickly! It gets quite chilly out there after dark. I’ve already prepared a special restorative soup for you—let me fetch you a bowl,” the woman said kindly.

“The luggage you sent earlier is in your room,” she continued. “I wasn’t sure about your preferences, so I didn’t dare touch anything.”

Autumn’s eyebrow rose slightly. Her luggage contained many personal belongings, and the thought that someone might have opened it made her heart tighten.

If anyone had gone through her things, especially without permission, she would have to seriously rethink her relationship with Owen Bennett.

“Thank you,” Autumn replied cautiously. “And how should I address you?”

“Just Mrs. Turner. I’m the house manager here. These three are the chefs—they can prepare any cuisine you desire and will be taking care of your meals. And these others handle the cleaning,” Mrs. Turner explained, taking Autumn’s hand gently and introducing her to each member of the staff.

Once the introductions were complete, Mrs. Turner gave a nod, and the entire staff bowed in unison.

“Welcome, Ms. Lopez,” they said in perfect harmony.

Autumn felt a strange mix of emotions welling up inside her—part amusement, part overwhelm.

“Thank you, but it’s quite late. You all should get some rest,” she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Yes, yes, Autumn’s right,” Mrs. Turner agreed. “Staying up late isn’t good for your health.”

After finishing the warm soup, Autumn noticed all eyes on her as she made her way upstairs.

Everyone here was remarkably kind, clearly following Owen’s detailed instructions.

Fresh clothes had been delivered directly from the department store, a thoughtful touch.

Even so, by the time she finished unpacking, it was well past midnight.

An 8 a.m. start was every working person’s nightmare, but years of routine had conditioned Autumn’s internal clock.

No matter how late she stayed up, she always managed to show up at the office sharp and prepared the next morning.

Even during this challenging transition period, she refused to let her work slip.

As Mars Wright’s chief secretary, she held responsibility for numerous tasks in his absence.

And when he was present, her duties only multiplied—especially when her sister, Lydia Lopez, also came to the office.

Though she hadn’t slept well, her efficiency remained intact. The dark circles beneath her eyes, however, were difficult to conceal beneath her makeup.

She looked exhausted.

So much so that when Mars arrived at the company for a meeting, his gaze kept drifting toward her.

Autumn had classic, striking features—her fair skin and natural beauty made her stand out even with minimal makeup.

Today, she wore only a light touch, but her eyes were slightly swollen, and a faint bluish shadow lingered beneath them.

Looks like my not coming home last night really affected her, Mars thought.

She probably stayed awake all night waiting.

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