Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Clara’s hand, gripping her coffee cup, trembled slightly as she began flipping through the files.

Benjamin didn’t rush her. He just waited.

About fifteen minutes later, Clara finally lifted her hand to rub her temples.

She knew Benjamin was giving her space, but she wasn’t about to let her personal drama mess up the company’s plans.

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“Look, based on these files, the Carter Group’s ‘Skyline‘ is the best fit. It’ll let our system shine. I’m just a tech lead; I won’t have much contact with him. It’s fine, really.”

Benjamin was happy with Clara’s answer. He knew she put her work first, but he couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under her eyes. “The project can wait. Go home and get some rest.”

Clara mumbled a “hmm‘. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a second, but she just couldn’t push through. Her legs felt like lead as she dragged herself out of the lab.

Next thing she knew, her eyes fluttered open, and the sky outside was painted a fiery orange.

Clara reached for her phone, saw Robert had called several times, and her heart sank.

Had something gone wrong?

Remembering James’s threats and Ethan’s insistence on buying her brownstone, she quickly called him back.

“Uncle Robert, sorry I missed your calls. Is everything okay at home?”

But Robert’s cheerful voice boomed through the line.“There you are, kiddo! Finally picked up. You free to come home for dinner tonight? Your aunt made some soup.”

Clara’s chest unclenched. “Okay, I’ll head back now.”

“Uncle, Aunt Patricia, I’m home!”

Clara opened the door and saw Mason lounging on the couch, glued to his phone. Her movement to take off her shoes hitched.

From the kitchen came the clatter of pots and pans. Patricia, apron tied, was busy at the stove, while Emma sprinkled goji berries into a clay pot. Emma, seeing her, grinned, “Clara’s back! Come on, sit down. Dinner’s almost ready!”

“Where’s Uncle?”

Clara asked, “Need any help?”

“Your uncle went out for your favorite braised duck.”

Patricia turned, wiping her hands on her apron, and gently pushed Clara out of the kitchen.“Go on, sit down and relax. No need to help.” Clara walked into the living room, sank into an armchair, and pulled out her phone to catch up on work messages.

Mason watched her for a moment, then spoke softly.“What happened at the conference… I didn’t expect it to get out. If you need me to, I can clarify things publicly.”

Clara knew Mason was referring to the rumors about her sleeping her way to the top. Facing the guy who basically started it all, she had nothing to say to him.

The glow from her phone screen lit up Clara’s face, making her expression even colder,

Mason gaze was locked on her profile, openly scrutinizing. Clara ignored him, her fingers flying on her phone, typing replies.

A click. The door opened. Robert stepped in, a paper bag in hand. His gaze flickered from Mason, locked on Clara, and a tiny frown creased his brow.

He instantly brightened, calling out, Clara, you’re here? Perfect timing! The braised duck just came out, it’s still piping hot!”

“You’re back?”

Patricia emerged from the kitchen, a steaming bowl of soup in hand.“Just in time. Wash up, dinner’s on.”

The dinner table was loaded with Clara’s favorites: Sweet & Sour Ribs, Braised Fish, Winter Melon Soup. Even the braised duck was perfectly seasoned, just how she liked it.

Clara blinked. “What’s the special occasion? Why the feast?”

Patricia’s hand, mid–reach for a dish, paused.

Emma plopped a piece of ribs onto Clara’s plate.“It’s been forever since you’ve been back. What’s wrong with making your favorites? Eat up.” Clara shot Emma a weird glance, but she knew it was her aunt and uncle’s thoughtful gesture. She smiled.“Guess I can’t say no, then.”

11:53

< Chapter 26

Everyone was stuffed.

Robert picked his teeth, pulling a stack of files from his briefcase. “Clara, come to my study for a sec. I need your signature on some papers.”

Clara remembered the bid for the Chicago East Side Development Site project and followed him into the study.

“Sorry, Uncle Robert,” Clara began. “Things have been crazy lately. I haven’t talked to Ethan about the Chicago East Side Development Site project yet.”

“But…”

Clara pulled her wallet out of her bag, ready to give Robert the funds she’d prepared.

Menu

The card held Mia’s cut from the dividends and Benjamin’s commission from the scheduling system. She’d also gotten an advance on her salary from Benjamin. She’d barely scraped together enough to close the funding gap.

“No worries.”

Robert waved a hand, pulling out some documents. “I know you’re busy,” he said.“I already found an investor for the Chicago East Side Development Site. You don’t need to worry about it.”

She slid a stack of papers across the table.“Anyway. Check out these share transfer agreements first.”

“A share transfer agreement?”

Clara froze, then picked up the documents, flipping through them carefully.

Sure enough, it was a share transfer agreement.

Robert and Patricia? They’d transferred 60% of their shares, all of it, straight to Clara. Stack that on top of what she already had, and just like that, she controlled a whopping 57% of Anderson Industries.

“Why… give it to me?”

Clara stared, confused. She was already a legal rep for the company, with her own 15% stake. She’d always thought these shares were for Emma.

Robert gave a wry smile.“I know it’s been rough for you with the Carters. The Andersons? We’ve cleaned up because of your connection to them. Enough for your aunt and me to retire comfortably.”

“Now that your sister’s pregnant, her and Mason? That’s a done deal. She’s got her support system locked in. Your uncle just wants to make sure your life is good too.”

“With all this, the Carters won’t be able to look down on you.”

Clara felt a warmth spread through her. Robert had clearly heard the rumors floating around. She didn’t argue, just grabbed the pen and signed

her name.

Robert watched her sign, a small smile playing on his lips, then he collected the papers.

“Don’t

waste.”

t you worry. I’ll make damn sure we get that Chicago East Side Development Site. I won’t let your grandpa or your mom’s hard work go to

Knowing Robert had a solid plan for the Chicago East Side Development Site, Clara finally felt a sense of relief. She left his place, went home, and crashed.

But as the days went by, a slow panic started to bubble up inside Clara.

Ethan, she knew, never gave up on anything he wanted. Not ever. And this was the brownstone Olivia was obsessed with.

She’d refused, so Ethan would usually come up with another plan. But it had been days. And he hadn’t reached out once. That evening, after work, she found herself in her car, driving toward the familiar alley. Almost without thinking. Before she even reached the entrance, she heard it: the unmistakable clang and crash of walls being torn down. Clara shoved the door open. Her blood instantly boiled.

The Hand–Embroidered Peony Tapestry her mom had made lay discarded on the floor, smeared with boot prints. The wicker chair she’d climbed on as a kid was shattered, a broken leg in the corner. Even the orchid her mom had carefully planted on the windowsill was ripped out by its roots, dumped in the trash.

“Stop!”

Clara stormed over, shoving a worker aside. “This is my home! Who told you to touch anything in here?”

Probably hearing her shouts, Diane walked out, wearing a dark blue silk dress.

“I told them to,” Diane said, a smirk playing on her lips.“This house is officially in Olivia’s name now. So of course, we’re renovating it to her

taste.

“No way.”

< Chapter 26

Clara glared at her.“This is the house my mom left me! I never agreed to sell it!”

Diane just scoffed. She yanked a red booklet from her bag and threw it at Clara’s feet.

“Go on. See for yourself.”

Clara snatched it up, flipping it open. The name “Olivia” on the deed burned her eyes.

When did she ever agree to transfer it?

How did they even get this deed?

As if sensing Clara’s confusion, Diane smiled, plucking the deed right out of her hand and tucking it away.

You really think just because you didn’t want to sell, I couldn’t get my hands on this place?”

“Oh, you don’t know the best part yet, do you?”

Merit

“You’ve been officially flagged as a defaulter. This house was listed on a foreclosure auction site days ago. We snagged it for less than twelve million dollars.”

Clara just froze.

She’s a defaulter? Her house was foreclosed?

How could she not know?

Pulling out her phone, Clara’s hands trembled as she searched the federal court’s website.

In just a few minutes, she found the information: Anderson Industries‘ bankruptcy liquidation and the seizure of her assets.

Her pupils blew open. She rushed to check the bidding details for the Chicago East Side Development Site. The project had been awarded to a company she’d never even heard of, and the legal rep? Robert!

Her uncle. And Ethan. They set her up.

They shorted Anderson Industries, leaving her with hundreds of millions in debt, all just so Olivia could legitimately get her hands on this brownstone?

Why? Why would Uncle do this?

Clara mumbled to herself. Her chest felt like a chunk had been ripped right out. The pain stole her breath.

Then it hit her. She lunged, grabbing Diane’s arm, her voice trembling.“My mom’s wooden box? Where is it? The mahogany one, with the lotus vines carved all over it!”

It held Mom’s diaries. Her life with Dad, my whole childhood – all documented there. And Dad’s only photo, the one that hadn’t been burned.

Diane impatiently yanked her hand away.“Already trashed it. Who’d wanna keep that junk?”

“Where’d you toss it?”

Clara demanded.

“Over there.”

Diane gestured vaguely at a pile of junk.

Clara spun around, lunging at the mess of overturned boxes. She started tearing through them, piece by piece, not even registering when her nails ripped on stray nails.

She ripped out clothes, shook books, even scraped through the dust in the corners. But the familiar wooden box? Not a trace.

“Where is it? How could it be gone?”

Clara crumpled to her knees, tears streaming down her face, choked sobs escaping her lips.

That box was her mom’s most treasured possession. Every night before bed when she was a kid, her mom would read from it. It had been with her through everything, a chronicle of her life.

A car engine rumbled, growing louder, finally pulling up outside the courtyard..

Ethan helped Olivia over the threshold. His brow furrowed at the mess everywhere.

Olivia’s gaze snagged on Clara. A fleeting smirk played on her lips, gone in an instant. She hooked arms with Diane, heading further in.“Mom,” she said, “let’s go see how we’re gonna remodel the second floor.”

Ethan stood there, his dark eyes staring down at Clara on the ground.

Her hair was a mess, her face streaked with tears and dirt, and her knees were still bleeding.

He went to her, took her arm.“You’re pregnant. Just say what you want. What’s with all this drama?”

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