Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“I said, don’t push it.”

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Chris’s gaze turned ice-cold on Ethan. “All the evidence she collected back then? It’s still around. Don’t push her too far, man. Even a cornered animal will bite back.”

Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He wanted to speak, but the words just wouldn’t come.

Wait. So Clara didn’t drug him?

She never used their hookup to force him into marriage. She called the

Then why didn’t she explain?

cops

instead?

No, she’d explained it a million times over those seven years. He just wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t believe. Deep down, he’d always branded Clara as a ruthless, manipulative woman, end of story.

That’s why he’d ignored her. Neglected her. Even…

Then he thought of the baby in Clara’s belly. Ethan’s hand gave an almost imperceptible shake.

“Ethan.”

Chris clapped him on the shoulder.”Look, for old times’ sake, I’ll tell you this one last time. If you really don’t like her, just get the damn divorce already. Everyone will be better off.”

Ethan snapped back, Clara’s “divorce” word flashing in his mind. Annoyance flared.

Was she really serious about a divorce?

Give up the baby too?

No way. Clara was just talking, pissed off because he’d been too close to Olivia. Just words. She hadn’t brought it up again. Not for

But this time… she might actually be serious.

ages.

Even he hadn’t anticipated this. Robert, just for the Chicago East Side Development Site, would deliberately tank Anderson Industries, burying Clara under a mountain of debt. All to seamlessly transfer that house into Olivia’s name!

“Eth.”

Olivia stepped up next to him, her pale hand wrapping around his arm.”I’m so sorry,” she whispered.”My mom just got spooked by Ms. Bennett. That’s why she called the cops. She really didn’t mean to make such a scene.”

“She never imagined Ms. Bennett would threaten to never let us go, even with the police standing right there.”

“I’m so sorry, Eth. What do we do now?”

Ethan didn’t look at Olivia. He pulled his arm away, his eyes cold as he turned to Diane.

“What was she looking for earlier?”

Ethan had always been gentle, even-tempered with Olivia and her mom. He’d never lost his cool like this before.

Diane frowned.”A mahogany box.”

“Please find it, Auntie.”

Ethan shot Olivia a glance. I’ll send someone to pick you up.”

Watching Ethan get into his car without a backward glance, Olivia’s face immediately darkened.

“Mom, you really overdid it. If Grandpa Carter finds out about this, Eth will blame me.”

‘No way.”

Diane patted her hand. Grandpa Carter has already tried to get Eth to break it off with you before. Did he ever listen?”

Olivia bit her lip, but deep down, she wasn’t so sure. The way Eth looked at her just now, it was so unfamiliar, it made her panic.

Clara followed Chris out of the car, stepping onto the curb outside the precinct.

“Wait!” Ethan’s voice cut through the cold air. He pulled his car to a screeching halt, then shoved the door open and strode toward them. There’s a misunderstanding here,” he said, his voice firm.”I want to drop the charges.”

Chris raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking to Clara.

A gust of wind pushed her hair off her forehead, revealing the cut on her brow bone, still seeping blood.

Clara met Ethan’s eyes.”You’re not the one who filed the report,” she stated flatly.”You have no right to drop the charges.”

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She’d been kept completely in the dark about Robert’s actions. She needed to tell her story, get it on official record with the police. That was her only shot at proving Robert deliberately shorted Anderson Industries, trying to bankrupt it.

And only then could she hope to get her house back.

Ethan frowned.”Clara, don’t-”

“Mr. Carter.”

Clara cut him off, her voice sharp.”This is my business, not yours.”

Chris glanced at Clara’s defiant back, then back at Ethan. He gave a helpless shrug and turned, heading inside the station.

Ethan sat in his car, watching the police station through the window. The ground outside was covered in cigarette butts. A storm brewed in his

eyes.

He knew if Diane didn’t press charges, Clara wouldn’t get busted for trespassing. But the anxiety churning in his stomach? He couldn’t shake it.

“Get out.”

A knock on the other car window. Ethan turned, saw James standing by the car, leaning on his cane.

“Grandpa? What are you doing here?”

Ethan got out, moving to steady James.

“It blew up at the police station. You think I wouldn’t show?”

Grandpa Lu shot him an annoyed glare.”Why can’t you just be a little nicer to Clara? She’s Luke’s mom, you know, and she’s pregnant.” “Not only did you steal her mother’s inheritance for some woman, you dragged her to the police station, and she even got hurt. Aren’t you worried she’ll completely snap and do something drastic?”

Ethan pressed his lips into a tight line.”Grandpa, Clara didn’t do that. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You know already?”

Grandpa let Ethan steady him as they walked into the police station.

“Yeah.”

Ethan glanced at the interrogation room. “I heard she even called the cops back then, and you buried it. Her marrying me? That was your doing too, wasn’t it?”

“Why didn’t you tell me all these years?”

“Ethan, would it have made a difference if you knew the truth back then?”

The interrogation room door opened. Clara flexed her wrists, stepping out.

Ethan’s mouth fell open. He wanted to tell her: there’s a difference. He wanted to tell her: if I’d known, I never would’ve hated you. I never would’ve let suffer like that.

you

But her eyes. So full of sarcasm, so ice-cold. Every word he wanted to say just froze in his throat.

‘Clara, you’ve been wronged.”

James shoved Ethan’s hand away, walking up to Clara and staring at her belly.

‘Come home with Grandpa, don’t mind this jerk. Tomorrow, Grandpa will take you to the hospital for a full check-up, see if the baby’s okay.” Ethan’s gaze dropped.’I’ll make time to go with you tomorrow.”

Clara looked at the grandfather and grandson, suddenly finding it all so ridiculous.

They never cared about her. Only the baby in her belly.

If she were the baby’s mother, maybe she’d feel happy. But this baby? It had zero to do with her! Not a single drop of her blood!

If they only knew she’d already aborted the baby… what kind of faces would they make then?

Two weeks. Just two more weeks, tops.

“No need, Grandpa. I’m fine.”

Clara took a step back, avoiding James’s outstretched hand. Her eyes found Ethan.

“Ethan, let’s get a divorce.”

She was so over this life!

Even if she hadn’t gathered all the proof that Ethan treated her like a baby machine, this whole mess would still be enough to completely ruin

him.

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“No divorce!”

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Robert and Patricia, who’d rushed over after hearing the news, heard Clara’s words just as they got out of their car. It jolted them. They shot each other a look.

‘Clara, don’t be rash!”

Patricia hurried a couple of steps closer.”Come on, couples work things out. Let’s talk through whatever’s bothering you. If you’re upset, your uncle and aunt are here for you. Don’t just throw around the word ‘divorce’ so easily.”

She reached Clara’s side, reaching out to steady her, lowering her voice.”Clara, think about our family company. Think about all the help the Carter family has given us over the years. This marriage cannot end!”

Clara didn’t look at her, turning sideways to avoid her hand. Her gaze, sharp as a blade, pinned Robert.”Anderson Industries is bankrupt. Do you still need the Carter family’s help?”

“Haven’t you

bled me dry enough all these years? How could you not even leave alone the last memento my mom left me?” Robert’s forehead beaded with sweat.”Clara, I had no choice. In Chicago, if Mr. Carter wants something, there’s no way he won’t get it.”

“What’s more…”

2

He needed Ethan’s help to land that Eastside project. What’s a damn yard if Ethan wants it? He can have it.

He caught James’s grim expression from the corner of his eye. Robert quickly changed his tune.”Clara, I’ve raised you all these years, it hasn’t been easy. You know how crucial that project is to me…”

“So, me, my mom, Grandpa, and Anderson Industries… we’re worth less to you than a single project?”

Clara scoffed.”Uncle, I’m not letting you off the hook for tanking Anderson Industries.

“Hey, Clara!”

Robert watched Clara storm out of the police station, wanting to chase after her and explain.

“Let her go,”

Patricia said, seeing Clara wouldn’t budge. Her face soured.

“That yard’s sold and gone. I don’t believe for a second she’ll get it back!”

She went on, grumbling, “I told you ages ago not to adopt her. Just send her back to the Bennett family in Boston! But no, you wouldn’t listen. Now look what you’ve done, you’ve raised an ungrateful brat!”

“The Boston Bennetts?”

Ethan walked out of the police station, catching their conversation. Confusion hit him. How could Clara be connected to the Boston Bennetts?

“Yeah.”

Patricia’s smile turned syrupy. “Clara’s dad is Richard, the Richard from the Boston Bennetts Mr. Carter marrying our Clara? The Carters are practically marrying into the Boston Bennetts themselves!”

‘Clara is Richard’s daughter?”

Disbelief flashed in Ethan’s eyes.

Olivia. So she’s her half-sister?