The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 87

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

Autumn nodded slowly, her mind racing with the implications of what lay before her.

“Yeah,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

This was the smoking gun, the undeniable proof that could expose Mars for the cheat he was, and finally hold him accountable for his actions. The mere thought thrilled her.

Of course, she wanted it.

As she considered the weight of this revelation, Autumn sensed Owen’s confusion, as if he couldn’t fathom why she would desire such a thing. She opened her mouth to clarify her intentions, but the teasing glimmer in his eyes made her pause.

Wait, does he think I want to keep it for myself?

Her eyes widened, disbelief washing over her like a cold wave.

Am I some kind of pervert who gets off on watching other people’s sex tapes?

And honestly, what was so special about Mars? He was a total dud, devoid of any charm or allure.

“No—” Autumn blurted out, panic rising in her chest at the thought of Owen misinterpreting her motives. “I need it as evidence of Mars’s affair!”

“I’m not interested in that kind of thing!” Owen shot back, his tone light but firm.

“Well, it’s not that I’m not interested…” she stammered, her cheeks flushing.

Having a normal sex drive was nothing to be ashamed of, but the more she tried to articulate her thoughts, the more entangled her words became. Frustrated, she finally surrendered. “Look, are you giving it to me or not?”

“I am,” Owen replied, his voice dripping with indulgence, as if granting her a wish he couldn’t refuse.

“I actually knew what you wanted it for,” he added, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

In that moment, Autumn realized her frantic display had been utterly unnecessary.

Autumn: “…”

She shot him an indignant glare, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

If he hadn’t been looking at her with that strange expression, would she have reacted so dramatically?

Owen caught the reproach in her eyes and chuckled softly, a sound that both irritated and amused her.

“Let’s head back. Your break is almost over,” he suggested, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Autumn glanced at her watch, the reality of time pressing down on her. “Just drop me off at the Cloudbreak building.”

She still had so much to pack.

Most of the items cluttering her office were personal belongings, trinkets she had accumulated over time. Each piece held a memory, and now she had to decide whether to take them or leave them behind. The thought of sorting through her life felt overwhelming, and she needed to get it done before she officially moved on.

“Okay,” she murmured, steeling herself for the task ahead.

After leaving the restaurant, Autumn slid into the back seat of the car, only to realize that the driver was absent. Owen was at the wheel, his presence both comforting and unnerving.

Feeling a bit drowsy from lunch, she curled up against the plush headrest, allowing herself a moment of rest.

When she finally opened her eyes, the car had come to a halt in front of the imposing Cloudbreak Corporation building.

“Are you heading back to your company now, too?” she asked, her voice casual as she reached for the door handle.

“I’m heading to the old family home,” he replied, a hint of something unspoken in his tone.

“I probably won’t be back at the villa tonight,” he added, as if it mattered to her.

Autumn coughed twice, irritation flaring within her. “I didn’t ask if you were coming back.”

His phrasing suggested that her curiosity was somehow significant, which annoyed her further.

“But I wanted to tell you,” he countered, his smooth demeanor unwavering.

The more he spoke, the more Autumn felt exposed, as if he could see right through her facade.

They were in a contract marriage, a peculiar arrangement that made everything feel off-kilter.

“I’m heading up,” she said, determined to regain her composure.

“The driver will pick you up tonight,” Owen stated matter-of-factly.

Autumn opened her mouth to protest, but he had already diverted his attention, pulling out his phone.

With a tight-lipped sigh, she chose silence, watching as Owen’s car pulled away, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

“Autumn Lopez.”

Only then did Mars’s memory click into place. “Oh, right. Well, go ahead and pack. By the way, those secretarial candidates who came in today were all terrible. Get someone to find new ones, quickly.”

“If you can’t, just stick it out for a while longer. Your belly isn’t that big yet, anyway,” he added dismissively.

“Oh, and Lydia is hurt. Mom has to take care of Dad, so she can’t look after Lydia. As her sister, you should do your part.”

“Go to the hospital after you’re done here and stay with her,” he commanded, as if it were a simple task.

Listening to Mars’s entitled orders, Autumn finally snapped. With a swift motion, she aimed a slap at his face.

Mars sensed the shift in the air and ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding her strike.

Fury coursed through him. “What the hell is wrong with you!” he exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief.

This was Cloudbreak!

If anyone witnessed this exchange, his reputation would be in tatters.

And to think he had just been praising Autumn to Mrs. Lopez, claiming she was sensible and knew how to maintain decorum in public. He never expected her to act so brazenly. Was she really using this pregnancy as an excuse to become arrogant and demanding?

“Mars, you’re the one who’s lost his mind,” she retorted, her voice low and fierce.

“I was already furious when you ran off to stay by Lydia’s side after her ‘suicide attempt,’ and now you’re telling me, a pregnant woman, to take care of her?”

“So what? You’re pregnant, not crippled. Your arms and legs aren’t broken. Why can’t you take care of your sister?” he shot back, his tone dripping with disdain.

“Why the hell should I take care of her?” Autumn demanded, her voice barely containing her anger. “Mom and Dad knew she was hurt, you knew she was hurt, and I, her own sister, am the last to find out? Is the Lopez family so broke we can’t even afford a nurse? Would it kill you to hire one?”

“Autumn, why are you being so cruel!” he exclaimed, his frustration palpable.

“Lydia needs delicate care. A hired nurse won’t do,” she replied, her gaze piercing into his.

“I’m not going,” she declared firmly.

Mars watched as Autumn turned to leave, a sudden realization dawning on him about her recent behavior.

He recalled Mrs. Lopez’s words from the hospital, and a fierce glint sparked in his eyes.

In an instant, he reached out, gripping her wrist tightly, pulling her back toward him.

“You’re going today whether you like it or not!” he asserted, his voice leaving no room for argument.