Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Clara found it all so ridiculous. A short, bitter laugh burst out.

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Turns out, everything she’d ever given Ethan over the years? Just like these divorce papers, he’d always tossed it aside. Only pulled it out when he needed it.

Her sudden, bitter laugh made David flinch.“M–Mrs. Bennett?”

“It’s nothing.”

Clara waved a dismissive hand.“Go on. I’m busy.”

The elevator doors opened. David stood frozen, watching Clara’s retreating back, and a helpless sigh escaped him.

The hospital room door swung open. Ethan pulled his hand from Olivia’s forehead, turning to look.

David saw the scene. He hesitated. Should he even go in?

“Did you find it?”

His boss’s voice snapped David back to reality. He held out the file envelope.“Yeah, this is the file Mrs. Bennett asked me to give you earlier.” Ethan reached out to take it.

Fuming on the couch, Lucas heard David’s words, sprang up like a cat with its tail stepped on, and snatched the file bag.

“Mom’s stuff?”

His eyes blazed with fury. He ripped at it twice, but it wouldn’t tear. So he just crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash. “Auntie’s still here. Why are you bringing her stuff over?”

After a few times interacting with them, Lucas knew Olivia spoiled him. And Ethan? He practically did whatever Olivia wanted. So with Olivia around, Lucas got way bolder.

David froze, staring at Ethan, totally lost.

Ethan’s brows furrowed.“What’s with the fuss? Is that how we raised you?”

“It’s because Mom refused to make Aunt Olivia porridge!”

Lucas jutted his chin out.“She won’t even make me a cake, fine. Aunt Olivia’s willing to do it.”

“But now Aunt Olivia’s sick because of me! And when I asked her to make some porridge, she wouldn’t even do that!”

“Eth.”

Olivia’s lips curved, hearing Lucas.“Luke’s just a kid, don’t be so hard on him.”

Ethan grunted. He told Lucas, “Don’t do that again.”

That was his way of dropping it..

Lucas felt a wave of relief. He knew his gamble paid off.

Sure enough, as long as Auntie spoke up for him, Dad wouldn’t get mad.

He just needed to stay on Auntie’s good side. Then, even if Dad and Mom split and Dad married Auntie, his standing in the Carter family would be just fine.

Clara finished her hospital check–in. Once the nurse hooked up her IV, she messaged Mia the doctor’s diet recommendations, asking if she could whip up some congee and bring it over.

Mia seemed busy; it took a while for her to text back “Okay.

Once her IV was done, Mia called. She was almost there.

Clara felt a bit better, so she went downstairs to the hospital entrance to meet her.

When Mia stepped out of her car, she looked rough. She was still muttering curses under her breath. But the second she saw Clara, her expression immediately shifted to worry.

“What? You’re actually hospitalized? What did the doctor say?”

Clara took the thermos.“Just a nasty cold,” she said.“My body’s been kinda run–down lately, so the doc wants me to stay a few days to get back

feet.”

on my

“What’s wrong with you? Who were you just cussing out?”

“It’s just…”

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< Chapter 11

Seeing Clara’s pale face, Mia couldn’t bring herself to tell her that she’d been fired that morning. HR explicitly told her it was Mr. Carter from Carter Group’s decision.

“Nothing, just ran into an idiot at work.”

“I’m planning to leave the company anyway. If you need anything these days, just give me a call.”

“Yeah, that’s probably for the best. You were planning to start your own company anyway.”

Clara’s gaze swept over Mia’s face. Seeing no unusual expression, she nodded.

“Yep, that’s what I meant.”

Mia said goodbye to Clara and got into her car.

Clara walked into the hospital, carrying the thermos, and ran into Lucas in the elevator lobby. He was getting medicine for Olivia. Lucas’s eyes lit up when he saw the thermos in Clara’s hand, but his small face was still full of disdain.“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t make it?”

Clara didn’t even look at him. She hit the up arrow.“This isn’t for you.”

Lucas followed Clara into the elevator.“Who was that for?”

The second the elevator doors slid open, he snatched the thermos from Clara’s hand and bolted out.

Clara froze for two seconds, then took off after him.

Her doctor had been clear: strict diet only, no takeout. This porridge? Mia had made a whole day’s worth. If she didn’t get it back, she’d be starving.

“Auntie, look what I got!”

Lucas burst into the room, beaming, only to see Ethan just setting his bowl down.

“Sorry, Luke, Auntie just finished eating.”

Olivia took a napkin from Ethan and dabbed her lips.

Lucas’s smile froze for a moment. He opened the thermos, about to pour the porridge into its lid–cup.

“Stop!”

Clara burst into the hospital room. She saw the whole thing and immediately snatched the thermos.

“I told you, that porridge wasn’t for you.”

Ethan stood by the hospital bed. He heard Clara’s voice and turned.

“You’re just in time. Let’s talk outside.”

Clara didn’t know what he wanted. She put the thermos down and followed him out of the room.

“What do you want to say?”

Ethan leaned against the wall, his profile stark and cold against the light.“Mia’s words caused some issues at the research institute. I smoothed things over, but Olivia still can’t get over it.”

“Have her apologize to Olivia. Then I can let this go.”

Clara looked like she’d just heard a bad joke. A faint, almost sarcastic curve touched her lips.

“Ethan, there’s a limit to how much you can defend her. She is…”

‘Clara.”

Ethan cut her off, his eyes turning to ice.“Watch your tone.”

Clara’s face tightened.“Mia’s not going to apologize. She’s just blunt, and she didn’t even say anything wrong…”

Clara had just opened her mouth. A sudden, violent retch erupted from the hospital room.

Ethan practically spun around, flinging the door open. Clara craned her neck, peering into the room.

Olivia was hunched over on the hospital bed, clutching the nightstand, dry heaving.

Lucas was dumping the porridge from the thermos into the trash.“Mom totally did this on purpose! Her porridge is so gross, it made Aunt Olivia puke!”

Ethan rushed forward, patting Olivia’s back while pulling out a tissue to wipe her mouth. He didn’t forget to tell Lucas to go get some warm

water.

“Aunt Olivia, you alright?”

< Chapter 11

Lucas put down the thermos and handed her the cup of water.

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Olivia waved a hand, then took a sip of water from his. It’s nothing,” she croaked.“The porridge was just a little bitter. It made me nauseous.” That scene? It stung Clara’s eyes. They actually ached.

Seven years of marriage. When it came to Lucas and Ethan, she was always hands–on, every single thing. She’d keep their clothes spotless, cook all their favorite dishes. Without fail.

But they never once asked her, ‘You tired?‘ And they sure as hell never said, “Thanks for everything.‘

Turns out, they could be this worried, this caring, for someone else.

“I told you already, that porridge wasn’t for you guys.”

Clara frowned, eyeing the thermos. Less than half the porridge was left.

She capped the thermos. Her gaze flickered to the trash can, then paused. The file folder David brought this morning was still there, untouched.

So, an amicable divorce with Ethan? Not gonna happen.

“I’ve got things to do. I’m leaving.”

Ethan squatted, cinching the trash bag shut. He didn’t even look back.“Take Luke home.”

Lucas pouted, a clear “awww” on his face. He wanted to hang out with his aunt longer, really build that connection.

But then he remembered Olivia had puked because he convinced her to eat the porridge. That shut him up

fast.

Clara watched the father and son. This was beyond ridiculous.

I’m not taking him.”

She said, then turned and walked away.

Ethan watched her retreating back, his gaze heavy.

Clara’s eyes were cool. No anger.

But she was ice–cold to him, and to their son. Not the gentle Clara he knew.

This realization hit him. Ethan felt a weird surge of irritation.

Clara walked out of the room. She grabbed the cold stair railing, heading up.

She hit the OB–GYN clinic. Her gaze casually swept the end of the hall, and her steps froze.

Mason had his arm around Emma, guiding her back inside. His eyes, usually so chill, were tight with worry now. But they softened the moment he looked down at her.

Emma, cradled in his arms, wore a cream–colored dress. A perfectly sweet expression played on her face. One hand rested gently on her lower abdomen, her fingertips unconsciously stroking it.

Clara stood frozen, watching them through the bustling crowd.

After a beat, she dropped her gaze. Her long lashes veiled the storm in her eyes. She turned and walked away.

Back in her hospital room, Clara’s mind was still stuck on that unopened envelope. She called her lawyer.

“Attorney Brown, I want to file for divorce.”

You can do that, sure,” Attorney Brown said, sounding a little surprised.“But if you sue, the property division is gonna be really bad for you.

I mean, you haven’t worked in years. And getting custody of your kid isn’t a guarantee either.”

Clara didn’t hesitate.“I don’t want custody of the kid, but I’m absolutely going after every cent I’m entitled to.”

“I’ve got some documents here, Attorney Brown. You can take a look.”

Clara hung up and immediately forwarded the forensic evidence from the hospital to Attorney Brown – the documents proving Ethan had used her as a surrogate.

Seconds later, her phone buzzed. It was Attorney Brown.

“Ms. Bennett, is all of this… real?”