The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 43

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

Autumn felt as if the world had come to a standstill. The crisp air of autumn held a biting chill, mirroring the icy grip of disbelief that had taken hold of her heart. She had mulled over countless scenarios in her mind—perhaps Mars had stumbled upon the divorce papers, or maybe Lydia Lopez had discovered that she had left her job. But this? This was the last thing she had ever anticipated.

Mars and Lydia were like two halves of a whole, inseparable and intertwined in a way that made Autumn’s heart ache. They were practically glued together, sharing every moment of their days as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.

In the past, Mars had always concocted some excuse to visit Lydia’s place. Autumn had dismissed it as nothing more than the demands of work, never once suspecting that something far more sinister was at play. It was only when the truth had been laid bare before her that she realized the shocking reality—Mars wasn’t busy; he had been leading a double life, one that included another family hidden in the shadows.

She had thought that since Mars hadn’t noticed her departure right away, he would never figure it out. But now, here he was, surprising her with his unexpected visit, catching her off guard.

“I moved back to my own place,” she stated flatly, her heart racing as she braced for his reaction.

Autumn chose to remain silent about the divorce, as well as the fact that she was currently staying at Owen Bennett’s house. Until those papers were signed and finalized, she wasn’t about to stir up more chaos in her life.

“What do you mean ‘your own place’? Since when do you have your own place? Autumn, can you please stop this nonsense? Come back home! If this gets out, what will people think of us?” His voice was a mix of frustration and desperation.

“It was just a small thing. Is it really worth running away from home? Besides, I already handed over the Mistveil project to you. What more is there for you to be upset about?”

A bitter laugh escaped Autumn’s lips, a sound that felt foreign to her.

“So, I’m supposed to express gratitude for ‘allowing’ me to work on the Mistveil project?” she shot back, her words laced with sarcasm.

Mars stood momentarily dumbfounded, the weight of her accusation hanging in the air. Deep down, he knew the truth about how that project had come to be. Autumn’s words struck a chord, stirring a sense of guilt within him.

“Ahem, we’re husband and wife. Does it really matter who gets the project? You pushed so hard for Mistveil to sign the contract for our mutual benefit, didn’t you?” He tried to sound sincere, even convincing, but the cracks in his facade were evident.

“Autumn, I know I haven’t treated you well. Please don’t be angry with me anymore, okay?” His voice softened, almost pleading. “Just give me your address. I’ll come pick you up right now. Be reasonable. You’re pregnant; you shouldn’t be stressing yourself out like this. Let’s just live a quiet life together, what do you say?”

But Autumn was no longer the naïve woman who would fall for Mars’s honeyed words.

She scoffed, her tone icy. “Going back there would be a nightmare. Mars, if you truly want me to find peace, then stop searching for me.”

His frustration boiled over, finally breaking his composure. “Autumn, what the hell is your problem?”

“Do you really think you can dictate where I go just because you’re having a child with me? Must you be so melodramatic that everyone learns about our family’s dirty laundry?”

Autumn raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “What family business? I simply moved into my own apartment for convenience. Is that really so embarrassing? Or is it you who has something to hide?”

Mars fell silent, the weight of her words crashing down on him.

After a prolonged pause, he managed to stammer, “Th-that’s not what I meant.”

“You misunderstood me…” he attempted to clarify, but Autumn cut him off with a wave of her hand.

“Then it’s settled. It’s not like you ever come home anyway, so it makes no difference where I reside.”

Her words sliced through him, igniting a fresh wave of guilt that washed over his conscience.

“Autumn… I…” he began, but she interrupted him.

“Is there anything else you need to say?”

“Just let me know where you’re staying,” Mars insisted, unwilling to let go of the thread that still tied them together.

Without a second thought, Autumn hung up the phone, the finality of her action echoing in the silence that followed.

As she listened to the dial tone, Mars felt a sense of desolation envelop him. An unfamiliar emptiness gnawed at him, leaving him bewildered. He couldn’t quite place the feeling, but one thing was clear: he needed Lydia Lopez more than ever.

It wasn’t merely that Cloudbreak Corporation was reliant on her; it was the fact that Autumn was carrying the child he had longed for.

His… issues had yet to resolve completely.

If he truly was impotent, the baby growing inside Autumn would be his only legacy, his sole heir.

He had to protect that child at all costs.

With that thought racing through his mind, Mars dialed Lydia’s number without hesitation.

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