The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 71

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

Mars Wright exhaled deeply, his patience wearing thin as he laid out the situation for Lydia Lopez, an air of resignation hanging between them. “Listen, this is only a temporary arrangement. Just head back to your family’s place for a while. Once Autumn finishes sorting out the properties under our names, I promise to find you a new place to stay.”

Lydia felt as if the ground had been pulled from beneath her. “What’s the big deal if Autumn discovers that I’m living in one of your properties? Do you really think she’ll get jealous over something so trivial?” Her voice trembled, a mix of frustration and disbelief.

“Besides,” she continued, her tone rising, “I’ve been with you for so long, and I never ask you for anything. Is it too much to ask for one little apartment? Mars, doesn’t this seem completely unfair to me?”

“And why is my sister suddenly deciding to reorganize her properties now, making you kick me out? Is she doing this just to get back at me?” The words tumbled out, laced with bitterness, as Lydia’s mind raced with the implications of Autumn’s actions.

Normally, whenever Lydia attempted to cast Autumn in a negative light, it worked like a charm. But today, her usual tactics fell flat, met with an unwavering response.

“Stop projecting your own insecurities onto her,” Mars replied firmly, his expression unyielding. “Your sister has no clue that you’re living in a property under my name. How could she be ‘kicking you out on purpose’? Autumn is someone who meticulously plans everything; she’s brilliant at investing. She’s only trying to liquidate some assets to reinvest in something more promising. Do you really have so little faith in her?”

Lydia clenched her jaw, her teeth grinding together as if they might shatter from the pressure. She refused to accept that any of this was mere coincidence. Only someone as naive as Mars would buy into such a flimsy excuse.

In the past, Lydia had believed she could easily manipulate Mars, and she had reveled in that power. After all, she had taken him from Autumn with barely any effort. But now, anger simmered within her.

If she weren’t still trying to keep this spineless man around for his money, she would have kicked him to the curb without a second thought. A man as indecisive as Mars didn’t deserve her!

“What good is my faith in her?” she shot back, venom lacing her words.

Knowing she couldn’t confront Mars head-on without risking everything, Lydia shifted her approach, adopting a victim’s demeanor. “She’s your wife, Mars. If she decides to audit your shared assets, I’m the one who ends up homeless!”

“What’s next? If she discovers our relationship, am I just supposed to let her berate me and throw me out?” Her voice cracked slightly, a mix of genuine fear and calculated manipulation.

“Mars, the only reason I’m willing to stay in this arrangement is that I love you. Are you really going to treat me like this?” Her heart raced, caught in a whirlwind of emotions.

It wasn’t that Lydia was desperate to cling to this particular penthouse; she was confident she could secure an even grander place in the future. But this was more than just a living situation—it was a battle of wills between her and Autumn.

Handing over the keys would signify that Mars had chosen Autumn over her. What would that make her? After all the time and effort she had invested in him, was she still less significant than his sister? The thought gnawed at her. Wouldn’t that label her a total failure?

If she was going to work this hard just to clear the way for Autumn to have it all, then why was she even bothering to be Mars’s mistress in the first place?

“Lydia, it’s just a house,” Mars finally replied, his voice softening as he struggled to see her in distress.

Unable to bear the sorrow in her tone, he relented. “How about this? I’ll wire you some money right now. You can buy whatever you want. I promise I’ll get you a bigger, better place later. Just give me a little time, okay?”

Lydia recognized that this was the best offer Mars could muster at the moment. Though contempt still simmered within her, she halted her protests. Deep down, she understood that Mars would never outright abandon Autumn, especially not with the baby she was carrying.

A vicious glimmer sparked in Lydia’s eyes, and her lips curled into a sly smile, though her tone softened as she spoke. “Mars, I’m not trying to pressure you or demand anything. I’m just terrified that we won’t be able to be together anymore.”

“I know, I know,” he said earnestly.

“Lydia, please. You’re the only one who holds my heart. Just work with me for now, and I promise I’ll make it up to you later, okay?”

It was only then that Lydia finally relented, a reluctant agreement settling between them.

Mars quickly transferred a significant sum into Lydia’s account, a large portion of his liquid assets.

As she glanced at the number, a sense of satisfaction washed over her, but she couldn’t resist sending a self-righteous text. [If you give me this much, won’t Autumn freak out when she finds out?]

Mars, brimming with confidence, replied, [Your sister never checks my accounts. Don’t worry. Buy whatever you desire. Hubby will cover it all!]

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