The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 60

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

“We’re here,” the assistant’s voice rang out, reverberating slightly in the cramped confines of the elevator.

In that instant, Autumn felt the weight of his gaze upon her, a scrutiny that sent a shiver down her spine. It was as if he were dissecting her very essence, trying to unravel the mystery of who she was.

Deep down, she brushed off his attention. Why should it matter? After all, their paths were unlikely to intersect again. She had no interest in expending mental energy on someone who would soon fade into the background of her memory.

As the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, the assistant remained rooted in place, seemingly lost in a reverie. Autumn, sensing the awkwardness, decided to give him a gentle nudge. “You coming?” she asked, stepping out first.

His daze shattered, the assistant’s cheeks flushed a bright crimson. “Coming!” he called out, hastily scrambling to follow her lead.

Autumn navigated the corridor toward Lydia’s hospital room, her heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and determination. Just as she was about to knock, the door swung open abruptly, revealing Mars Wright, his expression a tempest of irritation and impatience.

“What took you so long? Didn’t you see the text I sent you? I asked you to grab something for Lydia on your way here!” he barked, his tone sharp enough to cut through the tension in the air.

Autumn raised an eyebrow, glancing at her phone with a feigned innocence. “I didn’t see it,” she replied flatly, trying to mask her annoyance.

“You and that phone of yours… It’s like it doesn’t even exist. You never look at it, you don’t answer calls, and you certainly don’t reply to texts. What’s even the point of having one?” His frustration was palpable, echoing in the corridor like a thunderclap.

“It would have been much easier if you had just brought it yourself. Now someone has to go back down and buy it,” she countered, her voice steady, but her heart raced with the weight of their unspoken tensions.

“Why is it so hard to get you to do one little thing?” he exclaimed, his exasperation spilling over.

In his moment of ire, Mars hadn’t noticed the assistant lingering just behind Autumn. As his tirade subsided, he finally caught sight of the young man, who was now staring at the floor as if it might open up and swallow him whole.

Mars’s demeanor shifted abruptly; his irritation gave way to a sudden awareness. He loved to poke fun at Autumn at the office, often using work-related issues as a shield for his barbs. But even he recognized that his recent comments had crossed a line.

A flicker of awkwardness crossed his features, and he cleared his throat, hastily redirecting the conversation. “Uh, what are you doing here?” he asked the assistant, his voice attempting to regain its usual composure.

The assistant, who had been doing his utmost to become invisible, straightened up at the sound of Mars’s voice. “Mr. Wright, there’s a backlog of documents waiting for your signature,” he replied, his tone professional yet slightly nervous.

Mars grunted in response. “Come in with me.” He then turned back to Autumn, his gaze momentarily faltering as he added, his voice softening, “Hey, maybe you could make another trip? Lydia mentioned she’s craving that pie she loves, and a bubble tea.”

Knowing full well how unreasonable he was being, Mars attempted to sweeten the deal. “You’re her big sister, after all. I’m buried in these documents right now and can’t break away. Could you help me out just this once?”

Autumn regarded him with a silent intensity, her expression unreadable. She placed a hand on her belly, a subtle gesture that spoke volumes.

In that instant, both Mars and the assistant’s eyes were drawn to her baby bump, a visible reminder of the life growing within her.

A wave of shame and regret washed over Mars like a cold tide. What kind of man expects a pregnant woman to run errands for him? God, I’m such an asshole!

The assistant shot Mars a look filled with disdain, clearly appalled by the situation.

Reading the tension in the air, he quickly interjected, “Mr. Wright, I can leave these documents here for you to review and sign. I have plenty of time, so why don’t I run and grab the items?”

Mars nodded, relief flooding his features as he shot the assistant a grateful glance. “Great. Thanks for stepping up. Here, let me give you some cash for your trouble.”

He fished out a thick wad of bills from his wallet, the crisp notes a small fortune to the assistant. “The rest is for your trouble,” he added with a grin.

The assistant’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the cash—at least a couple of hundred dollars. His smile widened, genuine excitement lighting up his face. “Thanks, Mr. Wright! I’ll get right on it!”

With that, he took the money and dashed off, eager to complete the task.

Inside the hospital room, Lydia had been listening closely to the commotion outside. She simmered with anger that Mars hadn’t insisted Autumn go buy her things.

In the past, he would do anything she asked, even if it meant pressuring Autumn. But ever since Autumn announced her pregnancy, Mars had become a master of excuses.

A troubling thought crept into Lydia’s mind, echoing Autumn’s earlier words. What if the baby isn’t even his?

What if Mars is lying to me?

They’ll form a happy little family of three, while I’m left in the shadows—just the scandalous other woman everyone looks down upon.

Why does Autumn get to have all of that? It should have been mine!

“Is that you, Autumn?” Lydia called out, her voice cutting through the tension, unwilling to be overlooked.

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