The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 58

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

**Chapter 58**

Autumn stood there, her gaze inadvertently lingering on Owen longer than she had intended. She was caught in a moment that felt both surreal and painfully awkward. Owen, sensing her stare, glanced down and was met with an unexpected sight: a glimpse of high-quality gray silk boxers peeking out, a detail that was entirely too personal and intimate for her to witness.

It was as if the universe had decided to play a cruel joke, placing that particular detail right at the center of their shared space.

In a heartbeat, Owen’s expression shifted dramatically. He swiftly turned his hand, desperately trying to hide the evidence of his faux pas, as if it were a secret he wished to bury deep. The tension in his posture was palpable, the veins on the back of his hand standing out as he wrestled with the discomfort of the moment.

“Uh—” Owen stammered, his reaction so instantaneous that Autumn barely had time to look away.

The air between them thickened, heavy with an awkwardness that clung like a dense fog, wrapping around them both in a suffocating embrace.

He’s not going to think I’m some kind of perv, is he? Panic surged within her, a tide of anxiety threatening to overwhelm her rational thoughts.

After all, who in their right mind fixates on a guy’s underwear? Especially that particular part of it.

But it wasn’t intentional!

It had been a mere coincidence, a fleeting glimpse that had caught her off guard, and now she felt frozen in place, paralyzed by the embarrassment of the moment.

Autumn’s mind spun in a whirlwind of thoughts, yet she dared not raise her eyes to meet Owen’s. Not even for a heartbeat.

A heavy silence settled in the room, stretching between them like a taut string ready to snap.

Just as Autumn contemplated the idea of turning on her heel and escaping the moment, a soft knock at the door shattered the tension.

“Mr. Bennett, we’ve finished preparing your room,” came a voice from the other side, a lifeline thrown into their awkward exchange.

Owen grunted in acknowledgment, tossing a casual “Get some rest” over his shoulder as he hurriedly exited.

Autumn remained rooted in place, her heart racing in her chest, a wild drumbeat of anxiety.

It wasn’t until the gentle click of his door closing echoed in her ears that she finally exhaled, a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding.

Her spine, which had been rigid with tension, began to relax as the weight of the moment lifted.

But a wave of regret washed over her. If only she could turn back time, she would have certainly chosen to delay her entrance into the room. She could have avoided Owen entirely, and this mortifying incident would have simply remained an unspoken what-if.

With a heavy sigh, Autumn flopped onto her bed, sinking into the soft comfort for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, she mustered the energy to drag herself to the bathroom and splash cool water on her face, hoping to wash away the remnants of her embarrassment.

Meanwhile, in a separate guest room of the villa, Owen had summoned a housekeeper to bring him a glass of red wine, a subtle hint at the inner turmoil he was grappling with as he adjusted to his new surroundings.

Once the housekeeper delivered the wine, she descended the stairs, her voice dropping to a whisper as she spoke with a colleague.

“Why is Mr. Bennett asking for wine again?” she murmured, a note of surprise coloring her tone.

“Again?” the other housekeeper echoed, her eyebrows shooting up in disbelief.

“Yeah, it’s odd. I thought he had stopped needing alcohol to sleep,” she replied, shaking her head as if trying to comprehend the situation.

“Maybe he’s just adjusting to the new surroundings?” her colleague suggested, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

Their hushed conversation faded into the background as they returned to their tasks, understanding that it wasn’t their place to pry into their employer’s personal matters.

The kitchen was stocked with food, anticipating Autumn’s potential late-night cravings due to her pregnancy. If she called for a snack, they would be ready to bring it up immediately.

Yet, Autumn had always been a sound sleeper. After washing up and slipping into bed, she drifted off into a deep slumber, not stirring again until morning light filtered through the curtains.

By the time she awoke, Owen had already left.

The housekeeper informed her that he hadn’t even bothered with breakfast, a detail that sparked a flicker of concern in Autumn.

“You didn’t pack something for him to take?” she inquired, a hint of worry threading through her voice.

The housekeeper explained that Owen wasn’t in the habit of doing that.

Autumn raised an eyebrow, silently noting this detail. She chose not to pursue the topic further and focused on her own meal instead.

Being pregnant, she found herself consuming twice her usual portions, yet even that felt insufficient.

After finishing her meal, Autumn rubbed her belly, a frown creasing her forehead as she lamented, “I’ve eaten too much.”

The housekeeper quickly interjected with reassurance. “That’s not too much at all! Remember, you’re eating for two now.”

They were genuinely concerned that Autumn might follow in the footsteps of some society wives who resorted to extreme diets, even during pregnancy.

Such behavior was detrimental not just to the mothers but also to the unborn children’s development.

They understood that those women acted out of fear—fear that their wealthy husbands would stray.

Back then, Autumn had merely thought their behavior was odd. Trusting both Lydia and Mars implicitly, she hadn’t given it a second thought.

Only now did she realize that everyone else could see the truth that had eluded her. Her own husband and sister were entangled in an affair right under her nose, and she had been blissfully unaware.

“The company has a huge backlog of paperwork…” one of the employees began, frustration evident in their tone.

In the past, Autumn had managed all these documents herself. Some she signed, while for others, she found ways to persuade Mars to do it.

However, after Mr. Wright had assumed the role of CEO, his temperament had worsened, and his ego had inflated. No one in the Executive Office wanted to deal with him directly.

Confronted with a mountain of files, everyone instinctively turned to Autumn, knowing that if anyone was to face the brunt of Mr. Wright’s wrath, it would be her.

The old Autumn would have taken on the workload without a second thought. Her deep-seated dedication to Cloudbreak would never allow a backlog of files to hinder the company’s progress.

But now, Autumn was preparing to exit. Who in their right mind would willingly step in to clean up the messes of others?

With a firm resolve, she shoved the stack of files back into the assistant’s arms, washing her hands of the entire situation. “Sorry, I’ve already submitted my resignation. I’m only here to facilitate the transition. You’ll have to manage the daily workload yourselves.”

Her words sent shockwaves through the Executive Office, leaving everyone staring in disbelief. “Resignation?” they gasped in unison.

The assistant she had rejected looked particularly stunned. Fumbling for his phone, he immediately called Mars.

He didn’t dare mention the mountain of files; instead, he asked if Mars was aware that Autumn was planning to quit.

“Quit? Her?” Mars’s voice crackled through the line, laced with contempt. “Anyone else might quit, but not her!”

“Autumn is being so dramatic. Is this because I stayed at the hospital to care for Lydia? Is she using her resignation as a threat? Tell her to come to the hospital right now, or she’ll regret it!”

**Conclusion**

In the aftermath of the tension-filled encounter with Owen, Autumn found herself at a crossroads, her emotions swirling in a tempest of confusion and self-doubt. The awkwardness of their interaction had ignited a flicker of vulnerability within her, exposing the fragility of her own insecurities. As she lay in bed, grappling with the weight of her thoughts, she realized that her fixation on Owen’s fleeting moment of embarrassment mirrored her own fears of being judged and misunderstood. Yet, in the quiet solitude of her room, Autumn discovered a profound sense of relief in acknowledging her feelings, allowing her to embrace the uncertainty of her circumstances. This moment of introspection became a pivotal turning point, propelling her toward a deeper understanding of herself and the choices she needed to make.

With the decision to resign from Cloudbreak, Autumn took a bold step toward reclaiming her autonomy and prioritizing her well-being. No longer willing to be a pawn in the tangled dynamics of her workplace or her personal life, she chose to assert her boundaries and assert her worth. The disbelief of her colleagues echoed in her ears, but their shock only solidified her resolve. Autumn’s journey toward self-discovery was fraught with challenges, but each decision she made brought her closer to the light she sought. As she prepared to step into an uncertain future, she felt a newfound sense of peace within her, a quiet confidence that whispered she was no longer chasing the approval of others but rather embracing her own path, illuminated by the strength she had found within.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

In the upcoming chapter of “Chasing Light, Finding Peace,” readers can anticipate an intense emotional unraveling as Autumn grapples with the shocking revelation of her impending resignation from Cloudbreak Corporation. The weight of her decision will reverberate through her relationships, particularly with Mars, whose contempt for her choice hints at deeper tensions and unresolved feelings. As Autumn steps away from the corporate world, she will confront not only the challenges of her pregnancy but also the complexities of her marriage, as the shadows of infidelity loom larger. Will she find the courage to face Mars and Lydia, or will she retreat further into the safety of her own resolve?

Moreover, the chapter promises to delve deeper into the ramifications of Autumn’s choice, exploring how her departure from Cloudbreak will affect her identity and her future. As she navigates the murky waters of family dynamics and the shifting sands of her personal life, the stakes will rise. Can Autumn reclaim her sense of self amidst the chaos, or will she be swept away by the very tide she sought to escape? With the tension between her and Mars escalating, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eager to discover whether Autumn can forge a new path toward peace or if she will be drawn back into a web of deceit and heartbreak.