The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 54

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

Lydia found herself in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to suppress the soft, anguished whimper that escaped her lips, cutting through the sterile air of the hospital room like a sharp knife. The sound slipped out before Mars even had the chance to respond to Autumn’s earlier question, an unintentional cry for help that echoed her inner turmoil.

In an instant, Mars transformed. He turned away from Autumn, his attention now solely focused on Lydia, who lay vulnerable and fragile on the hospital bed.

“Lydia?” he called, his voice trembling with a mix of concern and urgency that made her heart race.

“Lydia, are you awake?” he pressed, his pulse quickening as he took in the sight of her pale face and the vulnerability etched in her features.

As Lydia’s eyes fluttered open, the moment she met Mars’s worried gaze, a dam broke within her. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, as if they had been waiting for this precise moment to pour forth. Without a second thought, she shot upright and flung herself into his arms, desperate for the warmth and safety of his embrace.

The scene unfolded with an almost choreographed grace, as if Lydia had rehearsed this very moment in her mind countless times.

Mars instinctively wrapped his arms around her, but as soon as he did, a wave of realization washed over him: they weren’t alone. His body stiffened, caught in a tug-of-war between his instinct to comfort Lydia and the awareness of Autumn watching them, her presence casting a shadow over their intimate moment.

“Lydia,” he murmured softly, trying to regain some semblance of control. “Lydia, you need to calm down.”

Lydia had expected Mars to rush to her side as he always did, but this time felt different. His words caught her off guard, leaving her feeling more vulnerable than before.

“Mars…” she whispered, her voice quaking. “I thought I was dead…”

With a desperate grip on his shirt, she embodied the role of a terrified survivor, a victim who had just clawed her way back from the brink of oblivion.

Autumn stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the emotional exchange unfold with an air of detached curiosity. She remained silent, an audience to their little performance, her eyes flickering between them with a hint of amusement that only fueled Lydia’s anxiety.

Mars was a bundle of nerves, torn between the urge to hold Lydia tighter and the overwhelming desire to create some distance. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that embracing her was far too intimate given the circumstances. With a strained laugh, he attempted to guide her back down onto the bed, creating a semblance of space.

“Lydia, you must have been terrified. Here, lie back down. I’ll go find a doctor to check on you,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with concern.

Lydia, sensing Mars’s hesitance, clenched her jaw in frustration. His words only deepened her unease.

“Oh, I didn’t realize my sister was here,” she said, attempting to reclaim some control over the situation.

“Don’t get the wrong idea, Autumn. Mars and I… I mean, my brother-in-law and I are just really close,” Lydia added, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, her heart racing with jealousy.

At her words, Mars shot a nervous glance toward Autumn, who raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the tension brewing in the air.

“Autumn…” he began, searching for the right words to diffuse the situation.

Autumn nodded knowingly, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. “Oh, I know. Mars isn’t into your type. He told me that himself a while back, didn’t you, Mars?”

“Besides,” she continued with a smirk, “you’re his sister-in-law. I wouldn’t suspect you two of anything untoward.”

Lydia’s fingers clenched the blanket beneath her, her heart racing with jealousy and frustration. She yearned to confront Mars about Autumn’s claim, to demand when he had ever expressed such sentiments. But with Autumn standing there, Lydia could only lower her gaze, hiding the storm of emotions swirling in her eyes.

“That’s enough, Autumn. Lydia just woke up; let’s not delve into this right now,” Mars interjected, his voice firm yet gentle. “Lydia, are you feeling any discomfort?”

In Mars’s mind, Lydia was clearly his priority. He fussed over her with a tender protectiveness, almost as if he were trying to ensure that no one would overlook the depth of their connection, even in front of Autumn.

A flicker of a smile returned to Lydia’s eyes, and she tugged on Mars’s sleeve, her voice laced with vulnerability. “I feel awful all over… Mars, I really thought I was going to die.”

His heart twisted painfully at her words. “Why would you do something so reckless? Is there anything in this world worth dying for? How could you be so careless?”

Suddenly, Lydia cast a furtive glance at Autumn, a look heavy with unspoken accusations, as if she were silently blaming her for the turmoil she felt.

Mars caught the message in her eyes, his expression shifting to one of disbelief. “Does this have something to do with you, Autumn? What did you say to Lydia before?”

“Autumn, are you serious? How could you be so cruel?” he pressed, his voice rising in intensity. “Lydia is your sister! You actually tried to push her to the edge?”

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