The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 42

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

“And why is that?”

Mars’s voice sliced through the tension, firm and unwavering. This was a moment he had been preparing for, a chance to impart a lesson he deemed crucial for Lydia’s growth.

He chose not to dwell on his own failures, particularly how his tardiness had thrown their negotiations with the other company into disarray.

Instead, he pressed on, his tone edged with frustration, “Would you truly consider a business partner who can’t manage to set their phone down for even five minutes?”

“Lydia, you’re not a child anymore. When will you finally get your act together?”

Mars anticipated that his stern words would trigger a moment of reflection in Lydia, prompting her to acknowledge her mistakes and step up to the plate of responsibility.

However, he failed to recognize a glaring truth—Lydia had been pampered her entire life, first by her family and then by him. The idea that she would suddenly see her flaws and take ownership of her actions was nothing but a naive hope.

Almost instantly, her retort came, sharp and defensive, “Isn’t this your fault? If this project was so important, why didn’t you take it seriously?”

“If you understood the gravity of this deal, why were you wasting time with me in the first place?”

“Now the project has just been handed over to Autumn on a silver platter. Mars, were you deceiving me all along? When you said you didn’t have feelings for Autumn, was that just a ploy to keep me hanging? Deep down, you’re still fixated on her, aren’t you? That’s why you refuse to divorce her, and why you let her get pregnant!”

“You!”

A wave of fury washed over Mars.

In that moment, he grasped the sheer terror of having a partner who contributed nothing but burdensome weight.

He was suddenly flooded with memories of the early days at Cloudbreak Corporation, when Autumn had faced the world with unyielding determination, hustling tirelessly from one meeting to the next, securing investments and clients with a grace that left others in awe.

They were sisters, yet how could they be so fundamentally different?

Autumn navigated challenges with a poise that seemed innate, constantly brimming with innovative ideas. Lydia, on the other hand, appeared to excel only in the realms of indulgence—food, drinks, and parties. If she were a young man, she would embody the stereotype of a spoiled trust-fund brat—an insatiable parasite draining the family’s resources.

When there were no stakes involved, Mars found Lydia’s antics somewhat amusing. After all, wasn’t it expected for girls to be a little spoiled?

But now, with a significant opportunity slipping through his fingers like sand, Lydia’s behavior felt less like youthful exuberance and more like a childish tantrum. There was nothing charming about it any longer.

“Enough is enough. I refuse to argue with you about this, Lydia. You need to take a long, hard look at the mistakes you’ve made. If you don’t, I swear I will never forgive you.”

With those final, weighty words, Mars ended the call.

Lydia had anticipated him to return, remorseful and begging for forgiveness, so when he hung up, she was left in stunned silence.

Panic surged through her, a cold wave of desperation.

She quickly dialed her mother, Mrs. Lopez, her heart racing.

Her mother listened patiently, allowing Lydia to spill her tale, but when she finally spoke, her voice dripped with exasperation. “Honestly, what am I going to do with you? I’ve told you time and again to learn about business, yet you refuse to take my advice. And now look at the mess you’ve created.”

“The two things a man values most are his ego and his career. You can be a little clueless, but you cannot afford to be completely oblivious! The Mistveil Group is a major player in Grand City. Even your father was eager to collaborate with them back in the day. Cloudbreak finally had a chance, and you just had to ruin it?”

Lydia didn’t dare contradict her mother; instead, she whined, “But I didn’t want Autumn to take the credit.”

“Autumn is a force to be reckoned with. Who gave you, a nobody, the audacity to think you could take her on in the business world?”

“Haven’t I told you before? A woman just has to conquer a man, and he’ll conquer the world for her! Think about it—the more successful Cloudbreak becomes, the more respect you’ll garner as the CEO’s wife, right?”

“Your father has already handed the Lopez Group over to Autumn. He only receives a small fraction of the profits, and what you and I see is an even smaller share of that. You’re being incredibly shortsighted! If all this money went to Cloudbreak, it would all be yours!”

The weight of her mother’s words finally began to sink in for Lydia.

She stammered, “Th-then what do I do, Mom? I really didn’t think about that…”

“Don’t panic. It’s not too late. Just listen to me. Keep Mars wrapped around your finger. As long as he’s on your side, we can’t lose this battle.”

“And step up your game with Autumn. If you can force her to divorce Mars, you’ll have a legitimate claim to his side. Better yet, try to prove she cheated on him. Then she won’t get a dime in the divorce, and it’ll all end up in your pocket.”

A spark of newfound determination lit up Lydia’s eyes.

“I get it!”

Her mother was right. While she might struggle with business acumen, crafting traps and framing others? That was her true talent.

Let Mars and Lydia remain in the hell they had created for themselves. Let them rot.

She was releasing them, setting them free. She was done being a pawn in their game.

After lunch, the Mistveil executive returned to his office. Since Autumn had already been discharged from the hospital, she made her way directly to the apartment Owen had arranged for her.

She had barely settled in for two minutes when her phone rang.

Autumn glanced at the screen. It was Mars.

Assuming he was calling to berate her about lunch, she locked her phone and pretended she hadn’t heard it.

But Mars was relentless, calling again and again.

Autumn raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off.

Mars was not known for his patience, so his insistence indicated that something significant was happening.

After a moment of indecision, she finally answered the call.

Mars’s frantic voice burst through the line, filled with urgency. “Autumn? Where are your things? When did you move out of the house?”

**Conclusion**

In the aftermath of their heated confrontation, both Mars and Lydia found themselves teetering on the edge of a precipice, each grappling with the fallout of their choices. Mars, once blinded by his loyalty to Lydia, now recognized the weight of her irresponsibility and the toll it had taken on their professional lives. The emotional turmoil he felt was compounded by the realization that he had been clinging to a partnership that was ultimately unproductive. As he faced the stark reality of his faltering marriage to Autumn, he understood that it was time to confront the truth and reclaim his agency. The anger that had surged within him transformed into a resolve to break free from the toxic patterns that had defined his relationships, igniting a flicker of hope for a future rooted in authenticity and respect.

Meanwhile, Lydia, fueled by her mother’s manipulative guidance, embarked on a new path, one that threatened to further entrench her in a web of deceit. While her initial shock at Mars’s rejection stirred a sense of panic, the promise of power and control over her circumstances ignited a dangerous ambition within her. She was determined to reshape her narrative, but in doing so, she risked losing herself in a game that could ultimately consume her. As she plotted her next move, the emotional arc of her journey became clear: it was a desperate chase for validation that could lead only to further isolation. In this tangled web of ambition, love, and betrayal, both Mars and Lydia stood at a crossroads, their choices poised to define not only their fates but also the fragile bonds that once connected them.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

In the next chapter of “Chasing Light, Finding Peace,” readers can expect the tension between Mars, Lydia, and Autumn to escalate dramatically. With Mars grappling with the fallout from his confrontation with Lydia and the unraveling of his relationship with Autumn, the stakes have never been higher. As he searches for answers and confronts the reality of his crumbling marriage, readers will witness his internal struggle as he comes to terms with the consequences of his past decisions. Will he be able to salvage his professional ambitions while navigating the personal chaos surrounding him?

Meanwhile, Lydia’s newfound determination to outmaneuver Autumn will add an intriguing layer of complexity to the narrative. Armed with her mother’s manipulative strategies, she is poised to launch a series of calculated moves that could turn the tables in her favor. As she plots her next steps, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, wondering how far she is willing to go to secure her position in both Mars’s life and the business world. Will her schemes backfire, or will she succeed in her quest for power and validation?

As Autumn continues to assert her independence, her journey of self-discovery will intertwine with Mars and Lydia’s escalating rivalry. The chapter promises to unveil unexpected alliances and betrayals, leading to a dramatic climax that could redefine the relationships at the heart of the story. With each character facing their own demons, the next chapter is set to be a thrilling exploration of ambition, love, and the lengths one will go to reclaim their life.