The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 98

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

Lydia Lopez felt as though she were gliding on a cloud, buoyed by an exhilarating sense of freedom and triumph. The hospital’s sterile walls had barely contained her spirit, and without a second thought, she had dashed off to embrace her fresh responsibilities at work.

As Autumn Lopez stepped into the bustling office, the sight that greeted her was nothing short of shocking. Lydia was commanding her colleagues with an air of authority, instructing them to clear out her office space.

Autumn raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across her face. Before she could voice her thoughts, Lydia glided over, a confident smile plastered on her face. “Autumn, you’re here!”

“Oh, I didn’t realize,” Autumn replied, her voice laced with feigned innocence. “Mars asked me to take over your position, and I noticed there was just so much clutter. I thought I’d have some of it cleared out to make room for my things. You don’t mind, do you, Autumn?”

Autumn’s gaze flickered to the unmistakable hickey on Lydia’s neck, and a wave of understanding washed over her. So, the two of them had rekindled their affair, despite the chaos that had unfolded.

She was taken aback, her mind racing. Lydia had been so “injured” just days ago, yet here she was, engaging in what could only be described as vigorous activities. The stamina of these two was truly remarkable.

“Got a boyfriend?” Autumn inquired, her tone light yet probing.

With divorce papers looming on the horizon, Autumn was determined to avoid a full-blown confrontation with Lydia. Yet, the provocation was hard to ignore. “Or were you in the hospital because things with your boyfriend got a little too rough?”

Lydia’s eyes widened in shock.

She had not anticipated Autumn’s boldness in such a public setting. For a moment, she was rendered speechless, caught off guard by the unexpected jab.

The surrounding employees perked up, their ears attuned to the unfolding drama.

Hospitalized? Just how intense had their encounters been?

Who could have guessed? Lydia, with her sweet and delicate demeanor, was apparently harboring a wild side.

But then again, everyone recalled how cozy she had gotten with Mars—her sister’s husband—right in the office.

Being a bit more “open” about her escapades seemed to fit her character perfectly.

“Autumn, how could you say such a thing about me?” Lydia exclaimed, her voice rising in a mixture of indignation and despair. She covered her face with her hands, tears welling in her eyes. “I was injured in an accident! I was worried that if you left, Mars wouldn’t have a secretary, and it would affect the company, so I dragged myself here while I was still sick. It’s one thing if you’re ungrateful, but now you’re slut-shaming me?”

Seeing Lydia’s pitiful expression, as if she had just endured a cruel bullying session, Autumn couldn’t help but emit a small sound of disbelief. “That’s what you call slut-shaming?”

“So, that hickey on your neck… was it forced on you?”

“Did you call the police? You can’t just let something like that slide. What if… what if the marks fade before you can find the guy who attacked you?”

Lydia was left utterly dumbfounded.

She had never imagined that the usually gentle Autumn could wield such sharp words.

What was happening? Autumn had always been so accommodating, even when Lydia stirred up trouble.

Arguing with her now… wasn’t she just setting herself up to be the office laughingstock?

“What’s all this commotion?”

Mars Wright, having proven his virility just the night before, entered the room with an air of satisfaction.

He immediately sensed the tension in the Executive Office and, without hesitation, made his way to Lydia’s side, his voice softening. “Lydia, what’s wrong?”

The moment Lydia laid eyes on Mars, her expression morphed into one of increased distress. “Mars, I…”

Hearing her tone, Mars instinctively glanced up.

His gaze met Autumn’s, which sparkled with a knowing, mocking smile.

Mars recoiled slightly, as if jolted by an electric shock, and quickly put a good three feet of distance between himself and Lydia.

“Autumn! Why didn’t you call me before you came? I’ve been trying to reach you, I was worried sick.”

Autumn chuckled lightly, the sound almost melodic. “Contact you for what? To drag me to the hospital against my will to take care of Lydia again?”

Mars’s face drained of color.

He hadn’t anticipated that Autumn would bring up such a sensitive topic in front of everyone.

Embarrassment washed over him as he glanced around the room.

When he noticed his employees watching the unfolding drama, his anger flared. Unable to vent his frustration at Autumn, he redirected it toward them instead.

“What are you all staring at? Don’t you have work to do? Does this company pay you to stand around and gossip?”

“I made one little joke, and now you all act like I’m the one who should be crucified for it?”

Autumn’s gaze swept over everyone in the Executive Office.

None of them dared to meet her eyes. The chill in her expression deepened until it finally settled, cold and unyielding, on Mars.

“Do you even know what we were discussing? Lydia shed a few tears, and suddenly it’s all my fault?”

Mars stiffened.

The memories of what he and Lydia had done the previous night flooded his mind, coupled with the knowledge that her hospital stay was indeed his doing.

He felt the wind leave his sails.

He recognized that pressing the issue further would only lead to disaster.

With Autumn’s stubborn nature, if he truly angered her, she would dig until she unearthed the truth.

And then, everything he had worked so hard to keep hidden would come tumbling out.

“Oh, I see. Autumn, please don’t be angry. I was wrong.”

“I saw Lydia crying and just assumed there was another misunderstanding.”

“Okay, it’s my fault. How about this? I’ll take you to lunch to make it up to you, alright?”

Playing the role of the doting husband, Mars approached Autumn and reached for her waist.

“I haven’t seen the baby in days. How’s my little one doing?”

Autumn swiftly stepped back, evading his touch.

“No, thank you. Since someone is here to take my place, I’ll just pack up my things and leave today.”

Mars frowned, confusion knitting his brow. “Why would you move everything out?”

Someone quietly explained Lydia’s actions. Mars’s frown deepened, and he shot an irritated glare at Lydia. “Didn’t I already set up an office for you?”