Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“What did you say?”

James stared at Clara, disbelief all over his face, even though she looked completely calm.“You want to divorce Eth?”

His gaze dropped to Clara’s belly, his voice turning ice–cold.

“No.”

“You’re pregnant! Eth finally agreed to IVF for this baby!”

Clara’s heart sank.

She’d figured, given James’s temperament and how messed up things were with Ethan, he’d at least let her have her way.

Seeing Clara’s face fall, James softened his tone.

“Look, I know you’re hurt, Clara. But if you really want a divorce, you gotta at least wait until the baby’s born.”

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Clara’s hand went to her stomach. A bitter laugh escaped her. James talked about not letting her suffer, but he was just like Ethan – seeing her as nothing more than a baby factory.

Good thing she’d already gotten rid of that kid. It was never hers anyway. Who knows how they would’ve messed with her if she’d kept it.

“Grandpa, Ethan and Olivia’s whole mess? There’s no way I can stay with him after this.”

“Nobody even knows who I am anyway. Once Ethan and I are divorced, he can just marry Olivia. Then you’ll finally have all the grandkids you want, right?”

James’s eyes narrowed. The pretense of warmth vanished.”I won’t allow it. Don’t forget, the Carter Group has been very good to your uncle’s family over the years.”

“I hear he’s eyeing that big East City project lately. You just focus on your pregnancy, and I guarantee he’ll get what he wants.”

Clara froze, a bitter smile twisting her lips.

James, still the same as ever, knew exactly where her weak spot was.

But she wasn’t the same pushover she’d been seven years ago. She had proof Ethan had implanted an embryo–his sperm and Olivia’s egg–into

her.

Just two more weeks, and the lawyers would have all the evidence gathered.

By then, even Grandpa’s objections wouldn’t mean a thing.

The wrought–iron gate swung open. A black Bentley slowly rolled up and stopped in front of them.

Ethan pushed the door open, stepping out. His black suit made him look even more imposing. His eyes held their usual coldness.

The moment James saw him, his pent–up rage just exploded.

“You jerk, dump that woman, now!”

“Don’t make me go after her myself. If you keep this up, your wife is gonna walk!”

Ethan’s gaze swept over Clara. A smirk tugged at his thin lips.“Grandpa, she’s just talking trash.”

“She won’t let go. Leave the Carter family? Who else would give her a life this good?”

“Can you just talk normally? You’re still pissed at her!”

James saw him. And that just made him even angrier.

Clara listened to them. A sudden disgust flared in her, out of nowhere. She was so done with this place, and definitely not about breath on Ethan.

She gave James a weak smile, her voice a little hoarse.“Grandpa, I have to go. I’ve got stuff to deal with.”

to

waste her

Clara slowly walked out of the old mansion. She ordered a rideshare. The moment she settled into the back seat, her phone vibrated. Uncle Robert’s frantic voice came through the phone.“Clara, that brownstone your mom left you? Someone’s really got their eye on it. And they’re offering big money to buy it!”

“Uncle, I won’t sell.”

Clara didn’t even think twice.“You know I can’t sell it.”

She glanced at her phone screen, frowning. Something felt off.

It wasn’t like no one had tried to buy that brownstone before. But Robert knew it was the only thing her mom left her. It was the home she and her mom relied on after leaving the Bennett family. He’d always refused.

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Robert stammered, “But… but the one who wants to buy it is Ethan. Clara, we can’t afford to offend him.”

“And I’m trying to use the Carter family’s connections to get that East City project. So why don’t we just agree? Besides, we’re family.”

Not for long.

Clara rubbed her temples. She couldn’t figure out why Ethan suddenly wanted that brownstone.

“Uncle, I’m not selling it to anyone. I’ll talk to Ethan about it myself.”

Meanwhile, at the Carter Estate.

James sat in his armchair, watching his grandson sip tea, utterly expressionless. He sighed.

“Can’t you just settle things with that woman? Let Clara have a peaceful pregnancy. Everything else can wait until after the baby’s born.”

“If you need a tech expert, just have her come to the company to help you.”

“I heard she’s been working on a traffic management system at Nova AI. People are saying good things about it.”

“She seems pretty capable to me. If you hadn’t kept her stuck at home for years, making her drop out of school, she probably would’ve gotten way further.”

“Plus, the company’s at a critical turning point. I heard Nova AI has ties to the U.S. Department of Defense. She could be our ‘in‘.”

Ethan took a sip of tea. His voice was flat.“You’re giving her too much credit, Grandpa.”

“That system? It was already in development way before she even joined Nova AI. Benjamin just let her take all the credit because of the Carter

name.”

“Even if she was smart back in school, she’s forgotten it all after so many years out of the game,”

“She can’t fill Olivia’s shoes.”

Just then, his phone rang. Ethan glanced at the screen, a flash of sarcasm in his eyes, and handed it to James.

“See? She’s just putting on an act. She realized we weren’t going to beg her to stay, so she’s calling.”

With that, Ethan stood, walked out to the hallway, and picked up his phone at the very last ring.

“Hello?”

“Ethan, I’m not selling the brownstone my mom left me. Don’t even try.

Clara’s voice, tinged with anger, came through the phone. Ethan’s brow subtly quirked.

“It’s not for me. I’m buying it for someone else. Name your price, sell it, and I’ll buy you a better place.”

Before Clara could say another word, he hung up. The harsh dial tone buzzed in her ear. Clara frowned.

For someone else?

Who had that much pull, enough to make him do something like that?

Olivia? Or… Diane?

Yeah, it had to be her!

When Mom was alive, Diane had always said she loved that brownstone. Knowing I’d never agree to sell, she must’ve told Ethan–her future son–in–law–and had him step in?

Clara bit her lip. After a long moment, she dialed a number she hadn’t called in years.

Clara set up a meeting with Diane.

She’d arrived ten minutes early, but Diane was already there.

Diane was decked out in custom luxury wear, a smile plastered on her face the second Clara walked through the door.

“What do you even want?”

Clara sat, ordering a coffee.

“You know I’m not selling that place.”

Diane just swirled her coffee. “Funny, I wanted this courtyard house myself. Way back when Linda picked it.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Richard chose her over me then. Real shame, right?”

“Olivia’s back from overseas, wants to settle in Chicago. I need to get her some properties, you know.”

Hearing her bring up her mom, Clara gripped her coffee cup, fighting the urge to splash it right in Diane’s face. Diane was clearly dead–set on

that house.

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“I might sell, Clara shot back.“But Richard needs to come talk to me himself.”

Diane’s face soured as Clara walked away.

Of course, Diane knew Richard felt guilty about his daughter. If she even suggested it, he wouldn’t just say no; he’d tell her to stay out of Clara’s life entirely.

Watching Clara walk away, a cold, vicious glint flashed in Diane’s eyes. She pulled out her phone and made a call.

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For the next few days, neither Ethan nor her Uncle Robert contacted Clara about the brownstone. Clara figured it was over. After all, Diane wouldn’t dare let Richard know they were even in Chicago.

She pulled two all–nighters back to back, developing the prototype for the project Benjamin had given her.

Benjamin looked at the data model on her laptop. He nodded.“Good. It’s pretty close to what we envisioned.”

“The higher–ups want to integrate this system with Carter Group’s ‘Skyline‘ project.”

Benjamin already knew about her relationship with Ethan. Fearing she might be uncomfortable, he quickly added, “Of course, if you’re uncomfortable with that, we can always choose another partner.”

With that, he slid a stack of files toward Clara.“Take a look, these are all the backup options.”

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