The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 56

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

Autumn Lopez felt a heavy weight settle in her chest, a suffocating realization that she could no longer trust a single word that fell from Mars Wright’s mouth.

The mere thought of a family of three? It was ludicrous, a cruel joke played by fate.

If only he had the slightest inkling that the child nurturing within her was not his, a tempest of chaos would have erupted long ago.

That man—an utterly shameless, ungrateful, and cold-hearted wretch—had dared to betray her with his own sister-in-law. He was unworthy of the title of father; his lineage should end with him, a fitting conclusion to his selfishness.

“Just focus on taking care of Lydia,” he had said, as if the complexities of their situation could be simplified into such a dismissive statement.

Autumn, trembling with the urge to unleash her pent-up frustration, quickly steered the conversation away from the brewing storm within her.

On the other end of the line, Mars’s confusion was palpable, his brow furrowing deeply as he struggled to comprehend her sudden shift in demeanor.

“Autumn, are you hiding something from me? It feels like I’m talking to a stranger.”

In that moment, Autumn’s heart raced. Did he suspect the divorce papers?

But then again, if Mars truly grasped her determination to end their marriage and the steps she was taking to sever ties with her job, he would have created a tempest of chaos by now.

His calmness was likely a result of his shock over her drastic transformation, a shift so profound it had bruised his fragile ego.

A cold, mocking light flickered in Autumn’s eyes, illuminating the depths of her resentment.

How selfish he was, acutely aware of his own interests while completely oblivious to the pain he had inflicted on her for years.

That was the essence of a scumbag: a walking contradiction. Mars could indulge in his sordid affairs with reckless abandon, yet the moment she dared to step outside the confines of his expectations, he felt compelled to interrogate her.

“What’s changed?”

Autumn feigned ignorance, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Am I not the same person I’ve always been?”

“But you moved out,” Mars replied, a hint of grievance coloring his tone.

“Autumn, that’s our home. If you leave, can it even be called a home anymore?”

“Please come back. It would ease my mind. And think about it—you’re pregnant. What if something were to happen to you out there? How would I explain that to Mom and Dad?”

“That’s my child too! You can’t be so cruel as to keep a father from seeing his child all the time, can you? I need to be part of this pregnancy.”

A low chuckle escaped Autumn’s lips, laced with bitter irony.

“Is that so? Then do you happen to remember when my next check-up is?”

Mars faltered, clearly caught off guard, his silence speaking volumes.

He honestly couldn’t recall when Autumn’s next appointment was, a glaring indication of his neglect.

“Besides, you haven’t been home in ages, have you? If you had, you wouldn’t have just realized I moved out. You call it our home, yet I was always the only one there.”

Mars fell silent, left speechless by her words.

Autumn wasn’t laying out these points out of a desire for him to remember her appointments or return home each night.

No, she was simply stating the undeniable truth.

In the past, when Autumn had loved him, she would have made excuses for his behavior.

But now, with her feelings having shifted, she felt liberated to voice whatever she desired. After all, he was the one who would be left squirming under the weight of his own guilt.

A cheating scumbag deserved to be haunted by his own conscience.

“If you have nothing else to say, I’m hanging up,” she declared, her voice steady and resolute, a newfound strength radiating from her.

Mars knew he couldn’t remain silent. “Autumn, I realize I’ve been neglecting you,” he admitted, his tone laced with guilt. “I promise it’s just for a little while longer. Once Lydia is out of the hospital, I’ll return and stay with you until you give birth.”

“Just give me a bit more time. Lydia is your sister, after all. I’m sure you understand, right?”

“Aren’t Mom and Dad back?” Autumn thought to herself, secretly thrilled at the prospect of Mars staying away, allowing her to navigate the divorce waiting period and finalize everything without interference.

But she couldn’t let go too easily; that would raise his suspicions.

Her icy demeanor had already put him on edge, and with their unexpected encounter at the Bennett Group, he likely still had doubts.

Yet, hearing her sound jealous, reminiscent of their earlier days, likely eased his suspicions.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, his tone reverting to irritation. “You mean you want your parents to take care of Lydia?”

“Autumn, you have it way too easy as a big sister.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify