Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 105

Chapter 105

The loading bars for the audio file and Sophie Parker’s photos completed. After a moment, her phone lit up, and Clara pressed the answer button.

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“Ms. Bennett, I’ve received the recording. With this, I’ll assemble a task force with my colleagues to reopen the investigation from back then.”

“We’ve also received the materials you had someone send us regarding Robert Anderson’s shorting of Anderson Industries. The police have officially opened a case and begun investigating.”

Hanging up, Clara watched the scenery flash by outside the car window, a weight lifting from her shoulders.

With the police reopening the investigation, she believed it wouldn’t be long before the truth behind her mother’s car accident was brought to light.

Her phone rang again. Seeing Richard Bennett’s name, Clara hesitated for a moment before answering.

Now that she’d found Anthony and learned the truth from back then, she should have told the Bennett family, no matter what.

But before she could even speak, Richard’s angry roar echoed from the receiver.

“Clara, what were you doing just now? Why didn’t you answer the phone!”

“Did you know that your brother and I wanted to get the civilian cooperation rights for Project Blade, so you deliberately said something to the project leader to make them reject Grand Horizon’s cooperation?”

“Do you really hate to see the Bennett family doing well?”

“Was killing your mother back then not enough for you? Now you’re pretending to agree to have a second child with Ethan Carter to get your hands on the Bennett family’s shares, while secretly sabotaging Grand Horizon’s collaboration with Blade!”

“Clara, what exactly are you plotting?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Clara’s eyes.

She had planned with Ryan Walker to meet with the head of Grand Horizon Tech today.

However, she received a call from Attorney Brown early in the morning, informing her that Diane’s people had left Anthony Parker’s residence last night. Knowing that there wouldn’t be many more chances to meet with Anthony, she entrusted the matter of Grand Horizon to Ryan.

But she never expected Grand Horizon to be backed by the Bennett family.

Clara’s mind flashed back to Victor Bennett’s disruptive outburst at Nova AI for Olivia’s sake. It was clear that Ryan must have given Victor the cold shoulder after learning about that incident, and Richard was now here to hold her accountable.

Seeing Clara’s silence, Richard became even more convinced that she had said something to Ryan, resulting in Victor’s poor treatment. His anger flared.

“I don’t care what you’ve been doing behind the scenes. Within three days, you will make sure that Grand Horizon and Nova Al partner up.”

“Otherwise, even if you get pregnant with Ethan Carter’s child, you won’t get a single share of what your mother left behind!“

Clara’s face twisted into a sneer at those words.

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Those shares were meant to be a safeguard for her and Victor, left by her mother when she found out about Richard’s affair and Olivia’s birth. Now, Richard was using them as a bargaining chip to threaten her.

“Richard, I had no idea that Grand Horizon was a Bennett family company. If I had known, I wouldn’t have given you the opportunity to meet in the first place.”

“If Grand Horizon wants to secure the Blade project partnership, fine.”

“But first, you need to make sure Grand Horizon has what it takes. And have the stock transfer agreement ready, or there’s nothing to

discuss.”

Richard clearly hadn’t expected Clara to be so assertive, and his voice rose.“So, you’re threatening me now!”

But thinking about how crucial the Blade project was to Grand Horizon and the entire Bennett family’s future, he forced down his anger.“Once you secure this partnership and have Ethan’s baby, I’ll naturally transfer the shares to you.”

Hearing this, Clara’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she retorted, “Those shares were originally Mom’s to leave me.”

“You have no right to mention her!”

Linda’s death was the biggest regret of Richard’s life. Hearing Clara bring it up, the anger in his heart could no longer be contained. “If it weren’t for you, how could she have died!”

Clara’s nose stung, and after a long silence, she finally asked, “All these years that you’ve ignored me, is it because you’ve always believed

that I killed Mom?”

“If… if I said that Mom’s death wasn’t my fault, would you regret treating me like this all these years…?”

To me?

“Enough!”

Richard’s patience ran out, and he interrupted her roughly.“Don’t try to make excuses to shirk responsibility, and don’t try to play the emotional card with your

mother.”

“As long as you get things done, even if Linda really was killed by you, I’ll still give you the shares according to her will.”

Clara closed her eyes briefly, knowing that even if she told Richard the truth now, he wouldn’t believe her. A flash of impatience crossed her face. Not wanting to argue with Richard any longer, she hung up.

She just wondered what his expression would be when he found out that Diane was the one who orchestrated her mother’s death all those years ago.

Would he hate Diane and Olivia and break ties with them?

Or would he still treat Olivia as his most beloved daughter?

No matter what, she had to get the shares her mother left her. She absolutely couldn’t let Diane and Olivia profit from them!

With that thought, Clara turned to Attorney Brown and said, “Could you please take me back to Nova Al?”

Half an hour later, at the Nova AI research lab.

Ryan was in the lab, organizing the final data for Blade. He smiled when he saw Clara enter.

“How did things go? Did you see him?”

“Yeah, it went pretty smoothly.”

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Clara nodded and walked over to stand beside him, glancing at the data on the screen.

“You saw Victor today?”

Hearing this, a flicker of darkness crossed Ryan’s eyes.

She knew?

Had the Bennetts been causing her trouble again?

“Yeah, I saw him. I didn’t agree to the partnership with Grand Horizon.”

“I had someone check Grand Horizon’s technology. Their core algorithm has too many loopholes. It simply can’t support the Blade system.”

Ryan handed Clara the files he was holding, “Here are their records.”

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He had embarrassed Victor Bennett in public, partly because he had caused Clara trouble for Olivia before, and partly because he had received Grand Horizon’s information and knew that their system had too many vulnerabilities and couldn’t support Blade at all.

“Okay.”

Clara took the files, didn’t even look at them, and tossed them on the desk.

When it came to work, she trusted Ryan and knew he wasn’t the type to mess around.

But…

“What’s wrong? Do you want to work with Grand Horizon?”

Seeing the hesitation in Clara’s eyes, Ryan asked, “Why?”

“Richard is threatening me with my mom’s shares to get me to facilitate the partnership.”

Clara didn’t hide anything and told him about the shares, “I was thinking that if we could partner, I would agree first and then wait until I got the shares.”

“Since they weren’t qualified to begin with, then forget about it.”

Clara didn’t want to let Grand Horizon get the rights to partner with Blade when she knew they weren’t capable enough.

The entire Blade system was developed by her and Ryan together, like their child. Even if they were going to find a platform to partner with, she didn’t want it to be someone like Grand Horizon.

Ryan Walker saw the look on Clara Bennett’s face and a flicker of sympathy crossed his eyes. He thought for a moment, then said, “There’s an easy way to handle this.”

“We can agree to cooperate with Grand Horizon, but we’ll specify in the contract that they’re responsible if they can’t integrate Blade.”

“Anyway, Blade hasn’t officially launched in the civilian sector yet. You can sort things out during this time, get the shares you’re entitled to, and then terminate the cooperation on the grounds that their technology is unqualified.”

“That way, the Bennett family can’t blame you, and Blade will have the opportunity to find a better platform.”

Clara Bennett was stunned for a moment, then looked at Ryan Walker.

Ryan Walker felt uneasy under her gaze and rubbed the tip of his nose.“What? Do you think my idea is too devious?”

“No.”

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She shook her head.

This was the best solution, how could it be devious?

“Won’t this be too much trouble for you?”

After all, she wouldn’t be at Nova AI for a while to draw out Natalie Parker, and Ryan Walker would have to do most of the work.

“What trouble?”

Ryan Walker looked at Clara Bennett’s dazed expression and couldn’t help but chuckle, finding her incredibly endearing.

Seeing Clara Bennett look over, he unconsciously changed the subject,“By the way, how’s Anderson Industries doing?”

“Fine.”

Speaking of Anderson Industries, Clara thought of Evan Taylor.“I acquired some shares from the shareholders, but the rest were bought by a man named Evan Taylor.”

Man

“I’ve never heard of him back in Chicago, and I don’t know who’s backing him. He’s injected a lot of capital into Anderson Industries, which has stabilized the situation for now.”

“Now that Walker Venture Partners are facing a public backlash, their previous blockades against Anderson Industries have inadvertently given them a free wave of publicity.”

“I just don’t know what the goal of the person behind Evan Taylor is…”

Ryan’s eyes flickered. He picked up his coffee and took a sip, masking the emotion in his eyes.“Whoever it is, as long as they can solve the problem, you don’t need to overthink it.”

“True.”

Clara nodded.“Did you tell Mr. Hayes about Natalie Parker?”

Now that she had decided to enter the game, she needed to arrange everything before Blade officially launched.

“Yeah, I did.”

Speaking of this, a hint of resentment flashed in Ryan’s eyes.“He said he would announce your departure from Nova Al as soon as possible.”

Once Clara leaves Nova AI, he’ll have even less time to see her.

“I’ve also contacted the hospital and the doctor.”

“Okay.”

Clara thought for a moment.“Then I won’t come to Nova AI starting tomorrow. I’ll have to trouble you with things here.”

“Let me know if you get overwhelmed; I can take care of Lila.”

Ryan’s eyes lit up, seeing it as a perfect excuse to see Clara more often.“Okay.”

As dusk fell, Clara walked out of Nova AI, looking at the hospital address and doctor’s contact information Ryan had arranged in her

hand.

Ryan’s arrangements were impeccably thorough, with clear notes on the doctor’s specialty and the consultation process.

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She took a deep breath and dialed Ethan’s number.

Ethan was sitting at the head of the conference room table, listening to his team present the market assessment report for Project Blade.

When “Clara” flashed on his phone screen, the coldness in his eyes instantly softened. He raised a hand, cutting off the presentation with a decisive gesture.“Meeting adjourned. Well resume in ten minutes.”

Before the words were even out of his mouth, he was already heading out of the conference room.

“What’s up? Calling me at this hour.”

His voice had none of its usual detachment, replaced by a gentle tone.

“I’ve resigned from Nova AL.”

Clara’s voice was calm. “I’ve also found a hospital and a doctor. When are you free to go for the IVF?

“So soon?

Ethan had expected Clara to be resistant to the idea, but he hadn’t anticipated her rushing into it.

“Time is of the essence; Luke’s condition probably can’t wait much longer.”

It was the best excuse Clara could come up with.

“Okay.”

Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Did this mean Clara still cared about Lucas, their son?

Was there a chance for them to reconcile?

“Let’s do it tomorrow then.”

Ethan glanced at David beside him, signaling him to clear his schedule for the next day.

He couldn’t wait to see Clara.

“Alright.”

After confirming the time, Clara hung up.

Ethan stared at the dark screen, a smile playing on his lips. He dialed Margaret’s number, telling her about their hospital visit tomorrow and instructing her to prepare the Old Estate.

He still wanted to be ready for Clara to move back to the Old Estate for her pregnancy.

Hearing the undisguised joy in Ethan’s voice, Margaret grimaced, but couldn’t suppress her own happiness.

She had been eagerly waiting for Clara to agree to conceive, hoping she would leave Nova Al soon and fulfill Natalie’s instructions.

With that in mind, Margaret called Natalie.

“Clara has already resigned from Nova AI. You should destroy those photos of that woman you have, right?”

“Understood.”

Natalie’s voice came from the other end of the line, devoid of emotion, yet carrying a subtle hint of mockery.

Unaware of the sarcasm, Margaret simply felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders and scoffed, “Don’t bother me again, and don’t

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even think about using those photos to make me do anything for you.”

With that, she hung up the phone, leaned back on the sofa, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Now, she would have time to deal with the evidence in Clara’s possession.

Meanwhile, at the Apex office.

Natalie hung up on Margaret, tossed her phone onto the desk, and stared at the message she had just received, her face filled with resentment. There were so many ways to get Clara to leave Nova Al, yet that idiot Margaret came up with the idea of gerring Clara pregnant with Ethan’s child again, using the pregnancy as an excuse for her to leave Nova AL.

Even though she had never considered marrying into the Carter family, how could she be willing to see Clara give Ethan another child, after already giving birth to Lucas, especially after all the years of history between her and Ethan!

“Clara, you sure know how to take the easy way out.”

She muttered under her breath, “You’re making a fuss about divorcing Ethan, but then you agree to get pregnant again. What else is that if not playing hard to get!”

She had seen through Clara long ago; Clara had no intention of leaving the Carter family or divorcing Ethan

After all, no one in Chicago’s elite circles could compare to Ethan!

After all, she had risked her life to save Ethan from a kidnapping and even took a bullet for him. Yet, even that wasn’t enough to get James Carter’s approval for her to marry into the Carter family!

But Clara Bennett was just so damn lucky!

A flicker of resentment flashed in her eyes at the thought.

Why did Clara get to have Ethan’s baby?

Natalie took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She picked up her phone again, found Ethan’s number, hesitated for a moment with her finger on the dial button, and then finally pressed it.

“Hello?”

Ethan was working late, reviewing documents, trying to get ahead of tomorrow’s tasks so he could see Clara

Seeing Natalie’s call, his fingers paused, his brow furrowed, and his tone was distant. “What is it?”

He felt only responsibility and guilt toward Natalie, nothing else.

Even though she had saved him years ago and lost her fertility in the process, he had previously tried to fulfill his promise of giving her a child by secretly implanting their fertilized egg into Clara, without Clara’s knowledge.

He had even vouched for her, forcibly brokering a deal between Apex and Nova Al

He had paid the price for all of it–his relationship with Clara had grown increasingly distant, even to the point of divorce.

Now that their relationship was finally improving, and Clara was willing to have another child for Lucas’s sake, he didn’t want to involve Natalie again..

“I heard…Ms. Bennett resigned from her job, is it to try for a baby with you?”

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Hearing the slight alienation in Ethan’s voice, the hatred Natalie felt towards Clara intensified, but she didn’t show it on her face, her voice choked with sobs.

“Eth, I’m so jealous of her. I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to be a mother in this lifetime.”

Ethan’s hand, holding the document, tightened suddenly, crumpling the paper as a flash of impatience crossed his eyes.

Of course, he knew about Natalie’s sacrifice, which was why he had always been lenient with her. But that didn’t mean she could

interfere in his life. His voice turned cold.

“This is my personal matter, and it’s not something you can interfere with.”

“I told you before, I’ve already been looking for a suitable surrogate for you overseas. Once I find one, you’ll have a child. You don’t need to bring up Clara.”

“But when will you

find one?”

Natalie said softly, “Even if you find one, I don’t have many frozen eggs left. What if something goes wrong? I’ll never be able to be a mother in my life.”

“Eth, can’t you find a way to implant our fertilized eggs into Clara again?”

“You know she’s the most suitable candidate.”