The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 66

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

**Chapter 66**

There was no way he could bring himself to accept it.

Oliver Lopez felt the tightening grip of isolation as he stepped down from his role as president of the Lopez Group. The once vibrant circle of friends he had cultivated began to dwindle, leaving him feeling adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

That sensation of freefall was precisely why he had acquiesced to his wife’s suggestion for a getaway—a chance to escape the suffocating reality of his new life.

He might not have been the brightest star in the firmament, but Oliver had once basked in the glow of success and high status. Now, forced into an early retirement before he even reached sixty, he wandered through life without purpose, watching as others soared to new heights. The stark contrast of their ascents filled him with a bitter, gnawing resentment that clung to him like a shadow.

It wasn’t the first time the thought had crossed his mind—asking Autumn to relinquish control of the Lopez Group back to him. After all, it was his company, built from the ground up with his own hands. The notion that he could reclaim it whenever he wished felt almost instinctual. Even if Autumn was his daughter, he felt entitled to assert his claim.

Yet, over the years, Autumn had devoted herself entirely to the Cloudbreak Corporation, neglecting the Lopez Group. Watching the company struggle to stay afloat filled Oliver with a deep-rooted fear. He hesitated to ask for it back, knowing that if he took the reins, the Lopez Group might not even manage to continue its faltering existence.

That ambition, once a roaring fire within him, had dimmed over time. But his wife’s words had ignited a spark, rekindling the embers of his ambition into a fierce blaze. The Mistveil Group was a legacy conglomerate—having a partner like that could propel the Lopez Group to heights he had only dreamed of!

“But I’ve already transferred the company to Autumn. You really think she’ll just hand it back to me if I ask?” He sighed, frustration lacing his voice.

Giving something away was simple; reclaiming it was an entirely different matter. Oliver understood this all too well, which is why the thought had remained just that—a thought.

Deep down, he felt a flicker of fear. Could he truly confront his own daughter for the company? The idea of losing that battle filled him with dread, leaving him vulnerable to humiliation.

“This isn’t about her happiness. Look at her—her baby bump is already starting to show. Shouldn’t her main focus be on her pregnancy and preparing to give Mars his first son?”

“A woman’s most important role is to ensure her husband’s family continues. Autumn took years to conceive after marriage, and now that there’s finally good news, the right thing for her to do is step aside and center her attention on the baby,” he reasoned, his voice growing more animated with each word.

“Besides, we’re family. What’s the difference between her running the company and you taking the reins? You’re her father; you wouldn’t harm her, would you?”

“That’s it!” Oliver exclaimed, clapping his hands together with a chuckle. “Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”

The more he mulled over it, the more brilliant his wife’s perspective appeared.

“Autumn’s probably holding some resentment toward me right now. It wouldn’t be fair for me to bring it up myself.”

Mrs. Lopez immediately grasped his implication.

“I’ll speak to Autumn,” she declared with determination.

“This is merely a gesture of your concern, as her father. I’m certain she’ll comprehend.”

Oliver offered a tired smile, though it was laced with trepidation. “I don’t need her to understand. I just need her to be reasonable and refrain from venting her frustrations in that group chat.”

Mrs. Lopez gently patted the back of his hand, offering reassurance.

The very thought of reclaiming his position as president of the Lopez Group straightened Oliver’s posture, instilling a newfound confidence within him.

“You’ve stood by my side for so long, and aside from our marriage, we haven’t done anything noteworthy. When I’m back in charge of the Lopez Group, I’ll host a grand banquet in the company’s honor. I’ll take you as my date and ensure everyone knows you’re the esteemed wife of the president of the Lopez Group.”

“Those people in the group chat were spouting nonsense, but they did have one point.”

“A girl as extraordinary as our Lydia shouldn’t be putting all her hopes on just one man. It could tarnish her reputation. We need to start searching for a suitable match for Lydia. Grand City is teeming with eligible bachelors; surely, there’s someone worthy of our girl.”

“I also heard that the president of the Bennett Group has been quite active lately. If Lydia could marry him, we’d never have to worry about her future again.”

“Just think—the Lopez Group could skyrocket with a connection to the Bennett Group.”

Mrs. Lopez’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Owen Bennett was a man who wielded immense power over the city’s economy. If her daughter could marry someone of that caliber—transforming Autumn into a woman of unparalleled status—then what was Mars Wright in comparison?

No matter how well Cloudbreak Corporation had performed in recent years, it paled in comparison to the legacy of the Bennetts!

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