Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 123

Chapter 123

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Hearing Anthony reveal the address of the recording, Clara glanced at Chris, who gave a subtle nod.“I’ll contact the local authorities.”

He then turned to Anthony, his face stern.“Anthony, you know the consequences of being a witness.”

“Of course.”

A flicker of hope appeared in Anthony’s eyes.“So, does this count as redeeming myself?”

Chris, with his years of experience, knew what he was thinking. He didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Your situation is unique. It’ll be up to the Justice Department to decide. But given your cooperation, you’ve likely saved your life.”

Anthony’s eyes dimmed.

One wrong step, and everything falls apart.

But, no matter what, it’s still better than continuing to deal with Diane and losing his life.

Watching Anthony being led into the police car, Clara knew this was finally coming to an end. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, she saw the person beside her sway.

She turned to see Ryan’s pale face, instinctively reaching out to steady him, only to find her hand covered in moisture, her heart

tightening.

“Ryan!”

He said it was just a minor injury, how could he be losing so much blood?

The paramedics who had come with Chris from Chicago quickly stepped forward, opening their medical kit.

Ryan Walker sat on a makeshift wooden plank, the black sleeve of his shirt cut open, revealing a bloody wound with the flesh torn and gaping a horrifying sight.

Clara Bennett knelt beside him, her fingers instinctively clutching the hem of his shirt, knuckles white. Her eyes were red–rimmed and intensely focused on the wound, her breathing shallow and quiet.

“This isn’t ideal, so it might sting a bit. Try to bear with it.”

The medic reached out with a cotton ball soaked in iodine.

“It’s okay, I can handle it.”

Ryan didn’t look at the wound. Instead, he turned his head to Clara, gently patting the back of her hand, his voice soft and reassuring.“Don’t worry, it’s just a scratch.”

Clara looked up, meeting his deep gaze, which held no trace of pain, only reassurance for her. A wave of emotion washed over her, and tears threatened to spill.

She turned her face away, sniffled, and croaked a muffled, “Okay.”

The medic swiftly disinfected and cleaned the wound. The sharp sting of alcohol meeting raw flesh made Ryan’s Adam’s apple bob, but he remained upright and unyielding, only his grip tightening on Clara’s hand.

The suture needle pierced through flesh and skin. Clara couldn’t bear to watch, yet she could clearly hear the faint sounds of the thread passing through her skin, each one like a stab to her heart.

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“Okay, the wound was quite deep, so I put in seven stitches. You’ll need to change the dressing every day, keep it dry, and avoid

infection.”

The medic finished bandaging the wound and gave instructions.

Clara quickly agreed, reaching out to help Ryan up.

“I’m fine. I can walk on my own.”

Ryan stood up, not even swaying, though his face was a shade paler than before.

Clara didn’t let go, but instead held him more firmly, murmuring, “Take it easy. Don’t strain yourself.”

Ryan saw the worry that still lingered in her eyes, and a faint smile touched his lips.“I’m not that fragile.”

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Chris wasn’t comfortable with Clara driving Ryan, injured as he was, back to Chicago. After arranging for a patrolman to escort them, he took Anthony and headed back.

As the car pulled away from the abandoned Brickworks Factory, the interior was silent save for the quiet hum of the air conditioning.

Clara turned to look at Ryan, who was leaning back in his seat, eyes closed. His long lashes cast faint shadows on his pale skin, but his aristocratic air was still evident.

Ryan seemed to sense her gaze and slowly opened his eyes, a hint of amusement in them.“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing,” Clara replied, quickly averting her eyes, her cheeks flushing slightly.“You should rest.”

“Okay.”

Wanting to ease her worries, Ryan slowly closed his eyes, and soon his breathing became even and deep.

Meanwhile, back in Chicago, at a private club in the shopping center…

The sound of shattering glass broke the silence. Diane stood in the bedroom, her face as pale as a sheet, her chest heaving.

Her confidant stood beside her, head bowed, trembling, not daring to utter a word.

“Useless!”

Diane spat out, her eyes so dark they could drip with malice.“You couldn’t even kill one person, and you got caught by the police!”

She knew that with Mr. Clark in the hands of the police, he wouldn’t give her up, knowing his personality, but Anthony was still alive, holding the recording.

She couldn’t escape involvement in this!

Was she really going to let things play out, letting all her years of planning go to waste?

“Mom, what’s wrong? Why do you look so awful?”

Olivia Bennett had just finished her appointment at the salon next door. Stepping into the suite, she couldn’t shake off a sudden sense of foreboding.

Hearing Olivia’s voice, Diane Bennett snapped out of her daze, her eyes hardening with resolve as she turned to her daughter. She rushed forward, grabbing Olivia’s hands tightly.

“Olivia, Mr. Clark has been arrested, and Anthony Parker is in police custody. You need to pack your things and leave Chicago

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immediately.”

“Go abroad–yes, doesn’t your visa still have some time left?”

“Leave now, tell your father there’s a sudden project overseas that requires you to go.”

If things took a turn for the better, Olivia could always come back once everything was settled.

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But if things were doomed, even if Diane was arrested, she would ensure Olivia was safe, and make sure Richard Bennett and Victor Bennett knew Olivia was in no way involved!

Olivia was stunned, panic flashing across her face.“Mom, what about you if I leave? You must have another plan, right?”

With both witnesses and evidence in the hands of the police, what options did Diane really have left?

Even if she somehow managed to escape, she couldn’t bear the thought of Olivia living on the run with her.

Hearing Olivia’s concerned words, Diane’s eyes welled up.“Don’t worry about anything else. If anyone asks if you know anything about Linda, you say you don’t. Understand?”

Looking into her mother’s determined eyes, Olivia bit her lip and nodded.“Yes, I understand.”

“My sweet girl.”

Diane stroked Olivia’s face with reluctance.”Go now, go pack your things. I’ll have someone take you to the airport.”

The two rushed back to the Bennett family’s villa in Chicago. Olivia hastily packed her luggage, and Diane gave her several credit cards.

“Take this money with you. Someone will contact you when it’s safe to return.”

“Okay.”

Before getting into the car, Olivia glanced at Diane, her eyes filled with tears.

“Mom, I’m leaving. What about you?”

Diane turned her face away, unable to look at her, her voice hoarse.“Don’t worry about me. Take care of yourself.”

As the car drove away, Richard and Victor’s car pulled into the villa gates.

“Aunt Bennett, why is Olivia suddenly going abroad? And in such a hurry?”

Victor got out of the car and saw Diane standing at the door, looking desolate. He couldn’t help but frown and ask.

Her professor from abroad called and said there’s a project they want her to work on,” Diane offered, forcing a smile.

The Bennett men had already learned about this on the way back.

He just found it odd that this project required such an urgent trip, especially since Clara had promised to help with debugging at Grand

Horizon once she obtained her shares.

But without Olivia, they couldn’t find anyone else to interface with Nova Al.

Richard didn’t dwell on it as much; he simply noticed Diane’s pallor and asked, “What’s wrong? You look terrible.”

Hearing this, a thought suddenly flashed through Diane’s mind. After making up her mind, her eyes reddened as she said, “I… I ran into Clara while I was out shopping with Olivia today.”

Victor, remembering how Clara had repeatedly mentioned the car accident from years ago, subtly implying that Diane was behind the

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hit–and–run driver, couldn’t help but frown.“Did she say something to you?”

“What could she say?”

Diane dabbed at the corner of her eye, feigning tears.“Clara’s had a tough life these past few years. I’m not one to hold a grudge.”

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“I’m just worried she’s been holding onto that old resentment about what happened and it’ll affect Grand Horizon getting the civilian partnership for Blade.”

The Bennett men exchanged a look, and Victor ground his teeth.“So she’s the one behind this again. No wonder Olivia was in such a hurry to go abroad.”

“Dad, I don’t think she ever wanted us to get the Blade civilian cooperation rights. We already gave her the shares. Isn’t that enough? Now she’s even forcing Olivia to go abroad!”

“We can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

The two had been discussing this matter at Grand Horizon today, wondering what to do if Clara refused to cooperate with Grand Horizon in the end.

“Well, it seems our foresight was right.”

Richard looked at his eldest son, thinking about what they had discussed before, and nodded.“Give Clara a call and ask her what she wants and if she still wants the shares.”

Hearing this, Diane’s lips curled into a smile.

Even if what she did to Linda back then was exposed, she would never let Clara get her way and get the shares.

The phone rang as Clara and Ryan were getting out of the car. Seeing Victor’s name on the caller ID, she frowned, wondering why he was calling her at this hour.

Instinctively, she didn’t want to answer and hung up, but the phone kept ringing incessantly.

Knowing Victor wouldn’t give up, Clara reluctantly answered the call.

“Clara! You’re going too far!”

The moment she answered, Victor’s furious voice blasted through the speaker, making her ears ring.

Clara held the phone away from her ear.“What did I do now?”

“What did you do? You have the nerve to ask!”

Victor’s voice was filled with barely suppressed rage.

“We gave you the shares your mother left behind, and it’s still not enough? Now you’re forcing Olivia to go abroad? Do you have to keep bringing up the past and make Aunt Diane and Olivia miserable?”

Olivia is going abroad?

A flash of understanding crossed Clara’s eyes. It seemed Diane had received word of Mr. Clark’s arrest and was already planning her

escape route.

She just wondered what she had told the Bennett men this time to make Victor call her in the middle of the night to interrogate her.

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Truly, the wicked accuse first, trying to drag her down with them as they faced their end.

“What does Olivia’s going abroad have to do with me?”

Clara replied calmly, helping Ryan out of the car.“If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

Ryan had developed a low fever on the way, and Clara was worried. She wanted to take him to the hospital, but he refused.

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“Clara, I’ve told you before, Aunt Bennett had nothing to do with that car accident back then. Can you please stop stirring things up?

Victor Bennett’s patience wore thin, hearing her nonchalant tone.“If you really want the shares your mother left behind, just drop this

matter.”

“Come over tomorrow and apologize to Aunt Bennett. Get Olivia to come back.”

Clara couldn’t help but scoff at Victor’s words.

Now that she had the witnesses and evidence, Victor still had the nerve to say this.“I will not apologize to her.”

“Whether she’s involved or not isn’t up to you. The police will investigate and find out the truth.”

“You called the police?”

Victor’s voice rose.“Clara, do you have any idea that once you involve the police, there’s no turning back!”

“Even if it’s proven that Aunt Bennett has nothing to do with it, it will still impact the Bennett Group!”

It could even affect the collaboration between Grand Horizon and Blade!

When the background check is done, Grand Horizon might get cut from the list!

Sure enough, he knew it. After Clara found out that Grand Horizon was under the Bennett Group, she had no intention of giving them the civilian partnership rights for Blade!

Luckily, he had recently contacted Adrian Carter, and they had agreed to work with him today.

The thought made him narrow his eyes, his voice hardening.“Clara, you’ll drop the charges now. If I don’t hear they’ve been dropped by morning, I’m telling Dad.”

“Don’t forget, the paperwork for transferring the shares is still being processed. Are you willing to risk losing the shares your mother left you?”

Clara Bennett helped a staggering Ryan Walker into the elevator, taking a deep breath to suppress the anger in her heart. “I won’t drop the case, Victor Bennett. I’m not like you, siding with the enemy.”

“I’ll find out what really happened in the accident. I’ll make sure the real culprit is brought to justice!”

As for the shares…

By the time this all comes out, who knows if the Bennett family will even be around!

She’d come too far to give up now!

“You!”

Clara’s words left Victor speechless, and he spat out, “Fine! Just fine! If you insist on being so stubborn, then don’t blame me for not acknowledging you as my sister, or the Bennett family for not acknowledging you as our daughter!”

The call abruptly ended, and a dial tone buzzed in her ear.

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Clara gripped her phone, rolling her eyes. As if they had ever acknowledged her before.

“Don’t get worked up.”

Sensing the anger radiating from her, Ryan spoke up from where he was leaning against the elevator wall.

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Clara hadn’t felt much about it before, but hearing those words, her eyes welled up against her will, yet she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.“I’m not angry. I just feel it’s unfair to my mother.”

When her mother was still alive, she had never favored Victor over her.

Even when she divorced Richard, she gave up everything except the shares left to her and Victor, forcing Richard to get a vasectomy so that Victor could secure the inheritance of the Bennett family.

At the time, Victor had clearly said that he would never forget her and their mother, and that once he took control of the Bennett family, he would definitely bring their mother back for a reunion.

Who knew that after only a little over a decade, Victor would forget!

Ryan watched her pretending to be strong, and his heart softened.“They aren’t worth your anger.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand, wanting to wipe away the moisture from the corner of Clara’s eye, but the high fever made him feel lightheaded, and he simply lurched forward.

“Ryan!”

Clara’s expression changed, and she quickly used her body to support him. The man’s weight pressed down on her, causing her to

stumble backward.

Ryan shook his head, trying to straighten up.“I’m okay, just a little tired maybe.”

No sooner had he spoken than his breathing turned rapid, and darkness clouded his vision.

Clara’s heart leaped in alarm as she braced herself to support his full weight, turning her head to look at Ryan.

She saw that he had lost consciousness, his head lolling to the side, his face as pale as a sheet, and his lips drained of all color.

“Ryan! Ryan Walker!”

Clara’s voice trembled, laced with a sob. Panic and anxiety surged through her, yet she dared not move, terrified of inadvertently worsening his condition.

With shaking hands, she pulled out her phone and dialed 911, incoherently rattling off the address.

Hanging up, she clutched Ryan’s hand tightly in hers. His hand was icy cold, sending a jolt of fear through her.

“Ryan Walker, don’t scare me like this. Wake up…”

The tears she had managed to hold back when she heard Victor’s words now streamed freely down her face, dripping onto the back of Ryan’s hand.

She couldn’t bear to imagine what she would do, what Lila would do, if anything happened to him.

The ambulance arrived quickly. Paramedics lifted Ryan onto a stretcher, and Clara followed closely behind as they rushed him to the hospital.

*hapes 192

th, the derve the operating nem doen Brush mixedy, the hit sa d

Clara Bennast on her in the way, her hands cheeped rely, Yeveves white. Her eyes were fock the imprentan berben prounding in her wer

Every second the bed by fate like in manity.

She silently prayed, over and over, the Mayan Waver mondd be dray

After what felt like forever, the light den the operating rowan finally were

The doctor emerged, removing his med, his expression per

Sexing the doctor’s fare, & were of dread wasted over Chere the wich wywh which spady/Brown, from what

“The patient is out of immediate danger, ban his condition wilt ge

The doctor said.

Clare thought of the hereditary genetic disease that When Canterand seated, and barbeen vote im how to set Weds wrong with him?

“The patient carries a rare hereditary genic disks”

The doctor flipped through Ryan Walker’s medical chven in body has been through too much trama Eident the wined wa treated relatively quickly this time, it triggered, ne nam of the barman Wha conditions to coffical”

UNHA the

Clard’s face drained of color, and she swayed slighty,

Just as she feared!

He carries, the old man’s genetic disease word

She should have made him yet checked when she firm found out!

It was all her fault for being too busy lately, one thing after another, that the completely forgen shown in

“This disease is very insidious, with no chrious symptoms usually, only flaring up during may trauma of stress.”

Thinking, Clara waste aware of Wyant’s condition, the doctor continued to explain, “We’ve already taken emergency measures and have temporarily stabilized his condition, but he’ll need long–term treatment and onervation, and he can’t be subjected to any mone secs.”

Tears streamed down Clard’s face, and her quilt intensified.

If she hadn’t forgaten and taken Ryan to Mid’s for a check–up, would this situation have been wovided?

Remembering how Wyan had risked his life time and again to help her, and this time he was injured waving her, triggering the diseme

If it weren’t for her, he might not be in this state.

“Doctor, please, you must save him. No matter how much it costs, no matter what the price, I’m willing to pay in.”

Clara grasped the doctor’s hand, her voice choked with sche

“We will do our best.”

The doctor nodded.“The patient needs rest now. You can visit him in his room, but please keep it quiet.”

Clara nodded, turning to follow the nurse towards the ward, but then, as if struck by sudden thought, she paused and asked, “I heard

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that this condition can be treated with stem cells…”

This was the excuse Margaret had used back when she wanted Lucas to feign illness so that Clara would get pregnant.

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The doctor, surprised that Clara was already aware of this, looked at her with a hint of astonishment, then nodded. “There is a chance,

yes, but the stem cells must be from someone with a blood relation to him.”

“And even then, a successful match isn’t guaranteed.”

Hearing this, Clara felt a wave of relief.

As long as it was possible.

A flicker of remorse crossed her eyes. While it might be cruel to Lila, if it could save Ryan, she believed Lila would agree.

Even if Lila didn’t, she could beg Ethan. They were half–brothers, after all…

With a plan forming in her mind, Clara exhaled, suppressing her inner turmoil, and followed the nurse into the ward.

Ryan lay in the hospital bed, his face still pale, eyes closed, his brow slightly furrowed as if he were in pain.

Clara gently walked to his side, gazing at his weakened state, tears welling up in her eyes once more.

She carefully took his hand in hers. It was still cold, but not as cold as before.

“Ryan, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.”

Clara choked back a sob.“Please get better soon, okay? I’m still waiting for you to help me get justice for Mom.”

“You said that as long as you were here, everything would be alright.”

“You secretly gave me so much money to prop up Anderson Industries, and I haven’t even paid you back yet…‘

“If Lila saw you like this, she’d be so worried. She’s so young and already without a mother. Can you bear to let her lose her father too?”

The thought of Lila, the thought of her potentially having to provide stem cells for Ryan, tugged at Clara’s heart, and she couldn’t continue, her vision blurring with tears.

As night deepened, Clara fell asleep beside the bed, exhausted, still clutching Ryan’s hand tightly.

In her dream, she thought she saw Ryan open his eyes, gazing at her tenderly, calling her name.

She startled awake and looked up at the bed. Ryan’s eyes were still closed, and he hadn’t stirred.

Clara glanced at the brightening horizon outside the window, steadied herself, and dialed Benjamin’s number.

“Hey? Clara, what’s up calling so early?”

Clara heard Benjamin’s voice, clearly still half–asleep, and lowered her voice, “Mr. Hayes, I’m sorry to call you so early…”

She briefly explained what had happened last night and updated Benjamin on Ryan’s condition.

“I know you have connections to the military. Can you see if you can arrange for them to send a military doctor to examine him?”

“Also, that special medicine that was used for James Carter before, can Ryan use it?”

On the other end of the line, Benjamin was silent for a few seconds before replying, “I understand. I’ll see what I can do.”

It wasn’t that he had connections to the military; he had connections to Ryan Walker himself! Ryan was even the major shareholder

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behind Nova Al!

Now that Ryan was in trouble, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and contact Commander Evans.

He hoped Commander Evans would help him out, considering all the merits Ryan had earned in the past.

After hanging up, Clara got up and splashed her face with cold water in the bathroom.

As soon as she sat back down by the bed, the phone rang. Seeing that it was Chris calling, Clara quickly answered.

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“Ms. Bennett, we’ve obtained the recording from Anthony Parker. We’re heading to the Bennett family villa to arrest Diane Bennett. Do you want to come