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.

Without another word, she turned and left the room.

But just as she stepped through the door, she collided with Lydia.

Lydia’s face twisted into a frown, ready to snap at her, but then she noticed who was in the conference room—and that Mars was present.

The anger that had been rising in her throat suddenly faded.

Clutching her arm, Lydia’s voice trembled with hurt. “Autumn, I brought lunch for you and Mars. If you didn’t want it, you could have just said so. You didn’t have to—”

Tears spilled down her cheeks before she could finish.

Hearing her sobs, Mars hurried over without hesitation and shoved Autumn aside.

The push was so forceful that Autumn slammed hard against the wall, a sharp pain exploding in her forehead, leaving her momentarily stunned.

“What on earth are you doing, Autumn? Lydia was kind enough to bring us lunch. Do you really have to treat her like that?”

“When did you become so cruel? Now you’re even turning against your own sister!” he accused.

The barrage of words made Autumn’s throbbing headache intensify.

She stared coldly at Mars and then at Lydia, who was now safely nestled in his arms.

Lydia held just one lunchbox. She claimed it was for both of them, but everyone knew her true intentions.

Autumn raised a hand to the spot on her forehead where the blow had landed. A large lump was already swelling beneath her fingers.

Still shaken by the impact, she leaned against the wall, taking a moment to steady herself.

“Mars,” she called softly.

His face was tight with impatience. “Don’t try to change the subject. You will apologize to Lydia today.”