The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 52

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

**Chapter 52**

Did Autumn truly have everything under control?

No, that simply couldn’t be the case.

If she had even the faintest idea of the misstep he had taken, her fiery temper would have unleashed a tempest of wrath. So why, then, was she sitting there with such unsettling composure?

A wave of anxiety crashed over Mars, but he forced himself to steady his breathing.

He began to mentally sift through her actions over the past few weeks, trying to untangle the enigma that was Autumn. It struck him like a bolt of lightning—her recent odd behavior was deeply rooted in jealousy, especially regarding her sister, Lydia.

With this realization, a sense of calm washed over him, momentarily dispelling his worries. He turned to Autumn, adopting a façade of innocence. “Autumn, what’s really going on? Are you upset because I let Lydia come work at Cloudbreak?”

She shot back, her voice sharp and clear, “I’ve already explained it to you; Lydia is your sister. Your parents were away on vacation, so of course we should look out for her. Why must you always be so envious of Lydia?”

The words struck a nerve, sending a pulse of anger surging through Oliver, causing a vein to throb ominously on his forehead.

“Is that really true?” he barked, disbelief radiating from him.

“Autumn, you’re an adult now. Are you still jealous of your own sister?”

As he spoke, Oliver’s fingers began to unbuckle his belt, his intentions becoming alarmingly clear. “You think just because you’re married, you can do whatever you please? Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson about your place in this family!”

Mrs. Lopez, witnessing the escalating situation, rushed in, her voice filled with urgency. “Oliver! Why unleash your anger on a child? We both know we’ve allowed Autumn to feel slighted over the years because Lydia is younger. This isn’t right!”

Instead of calming Oliver, her words only fueled his rage further.

“Fair? I’m the one who runs the Lopez household! What does she know about fairness?”

Autumn stood frozen, her heart racing as she observed her father, now a raging bull. Vivid memories flooded back, uninvited.

This was just like her childhood. The moment she made even the slightest mistake, her father would reach for his belt or whatever was within arm’s reach, unleashing his wrath upon her.

Penelope, her stepmother, would stand off to the side, feigning comfort.

But in truth, she was merely pouring gasoline on the flames.

In her younger years, Autumn had genuinely believed her stepmother was kind, nothing like the wicked figures depicted in fairy tales.

As she matured and began to comprehend the reality around her, it became painfully clear that they were all merely acting for her benefit.

So, she began to conceal her true self, gradually distancing herself from the Lopez family.

Yet, despite all those years of turmoil, she had developed a genuine affection for her sister, Lydia.

In the past, even though Lydia was spoiled, she had treated Autumn with unexpected kindness. Her playful antics had managed to melt a bit of the ice that encased Autumn’s heart.

But then Mars entered her life, and she abandoned all hope of reconciliation with her family, dedicating herself to creating a small, joyful haven of her own.

She had believed she found happiness in her marriage, convinced she had finally escaped the suffocating hell of pretense. Yet, betrayal came knocking, not just from her husband but also from her stepsister.

As Autumn watched Oliver brandish his belt, she felt an icy calm envelop her, surprising even herself.

Oliver, taken aback by her lack of fear, felt as though his authority as the patriarch was being openly challenged.

“So you’re not even going to pretend to feel remorse?” he sneered.

“Fine, fine. Today, I’m going to show you how to be a proper daughter and an older sister!”

With his hand raised high, Autumn’s fingers slipped quietly into her purse.

Ever since learning of her pregnancy, she had taken to carrying a can of pepper spray, just in case the unthinkable happened.

In the past, she might have accepted the abuse as her fate. But after the despicable betrayal by Lydia and Mars, she vowed never to submit to anyone in this family again.

Moreover, she now had a child to protect. If Oliver dared to lay a finger on her, she would ensure he found himself in the hospital, not her.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Just as Oliver’s belt was about to come crashing down upon her, the door swung open, and a nurse stepped in.

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