Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 29

< Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Ethan turned his head, his eyes finding Clara standing at the street corner, waiting for the light.

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She was five months pregnant. You’d expect her to be showing, maybe even a little plump. But lately? Not an ounce gained. She actually looked thinner?

Ethan pulled a pack of smokes from his pocket.

Ethan suddenly realized he’d been married to Clara for seven years, yet he barely knew her. He had no clue why she’d married him, let alone her connection to the Boston Bennett family.

So she was Olivia’s half-sister?

Clearly, her family life sucked. And she clearly despised Diane. No wonder she’d blown up about transferring the Brownstone to Olivia.

“Mr. Carter.”

Patricia watched Ethan. He still hadn’t said anything.”Clara’s just… overwhelmed right now,” she said, carefully.”About us selling the house her mom left her. She was just talking out of anger. Don’t take it personally.”

“We’ll really talk to her later. We’ll make sure she cools off.”

“She won’t make a big fuss about divorcing you.”

Ethan didn’t say a word. He took a drag from his cigarette, his gaze fixed on the direction Clara had left.

Suddenly, a cane whacked his calf.”What are you spacing out for all by yourself? Where’s Clara?”

“Grandpa.”

Ethan turned, his voice raspy.

James’s brows furrowed.”You just let her walk away like that?”

“Go get her back. Apologize to her properly.”

“Even if she’s serious about divorcing you, you still gotta wait ’til after she has the baby”

“Got it, Grandpa.”

Ethan watched James get into his car. After saying goodbye to Robert and his wife, he got in his own.

He sat in the driver’s seat for a bit, then dialed Clara’s number.

“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please…”

A flicker of surprise crossed Ethan’s face. Had he just been… blocked by Clara?

His fingers drummed on the steering wheel. Ethan scrolled through his contacts on his phone.

Lots of people in his contacts knew Clara, but most were his friends and didn’t really know her well.

And Clara, usually when he came home, she’d always have a light on in the living room, just quietly waiting for him.

He didn’t even know who Clara was close to, or who she kept in touch with. Where did she even go when she wasn’t home? No, there’s someone Clara really cares about. They’re definitely in touch.

Pissed, Ethan lit a cigarette. Then he called David.

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‘Go find out where that woman, Mia, lives. And if my wife’s been in touch with her lately.”

The black Bentley finally pulled away from the curb. Then, at the traffic light, it suddenly whipped into a U-turn.

Back at the mansion, Olivia sat on the carpet. She was helping Lucas put together a robot model.

‘Auntie, did you and Dad have a fight?”

“Yeah.”

For some reason, the unsettling feeling in Olivia’s gut just wouldn’t quit. She quickly had her staff dig up Clara’s mother’s belongings and send

them over.

‘Auntie and your mom had some issues. That made your dad mad.”

“Then it’s gotta be Mom’s fault.”

Without a second thought, Lucas blurted out, “Dad’s definitely mad at Mom too.”

Olivia shook her head, a bitter smile on her face. She wasn’t sure if she should tell Lucas about what went down today.

‘Auntie, don’t worry. When Dad’s back, I’ve got your back.”

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< Chapter 29

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Lucas’s reassurance didn’t do a thing. When the villa door swung open, Olivia still jumped.

His gaze swept the floor. Toys. Everywhere. Ethan frowned, a barely-there crease between his brows. When Clara had been here, the house was always spotless. Never once had it looked like this.

Hearing the noise, Lucas looked up, gave Olivia a reassuring look, then ran to hug Ethan’s leg.

“Dad, what took you so long? Auntie Olivia’s been waiting for you forever.”

Ethan patted Lucas’s little face, his voice flat, completely devoid of emotion.”Go put away your toys. I need to talk to Auntie Olivia.”

“Okay.”

Lucas didn’t notice anything off about his dad. He let go of Ethan, gave Olivia a quick smile, and started tidying up the living room.

Olivia stood up. From her handbag, she pulled out a mahogany box.

“Eth, this is what Ms. Bennett was looking for.”

She walked over to Ethan, her eyes flicking up to his face, watching for any reaction.

Ethan took the wooden box. It was heavy. Intricate vine patterns covered the surface, and the edges were worn shiny, obviously from being handled repeatedly.

“This looks like an heirloom from her mother.”

Ethan’s words made Olivia’s face drain of color. Before she could even process it, he hit her with another question:”Did you know her mother?”

Olivia swayed, a full-blown panic setting in.

“Eth, I… I’m not close with Ms. Bennett.”

“When my mom and I moved into the Bennett family home, she’d already left with her mother.”

“So, you’re the product of her father’s affair.”

Ethan’s voice was ice cold, making her tremble.

“Because you and your mother showed up, she and her mom were forced out of the Bennett family, out to Chicago.”

“And what was going through your head when you tried to buy the property her mother left?”

“E-Eth.”

Ethan’s gaze was lethal. Olivia flinched, taking a step back.

“I had no idea that property was her mother’s. My mom just liked the location.”

“We’re truly sorry all that happened.”

“If this created a rift between you two, I-I can give her the yard back.”

“Right.”

Ethan’s fingers traced the patterns on the wooden box.”Olivia, I keep you around because I need your skills.”

‘Look, I’ll admit you’ve got some skills. But tons of people can do this. We don’t need you. So don’t get any big ideas.”

Olivia’s face went completely white.”Eth, I didn’t mean to…”

‘Schedule a time with Robert to transfer the deed.”

Ethan looked up, his eyes like chips of ice.”I’ll find you a new place.”

Olivia’s lips trembled. She tried to say something, but when his icy gaze hit her, she bit back her words.

She nodded hard, her nails digging into her palms.”Okay, I’ll handle it first thing tomorrow.”

Olivia’s fingers paused on the cold doorknob. She glanced back at Ethan.

“Eth, I’m really so sorry for all this trouble.”

The heavy carved door clicked shut, the sound jarring in the empty courtyard.

Olivia stood on the stone steps, her eyes flicking back to the door. A few minutes passed, but it stayed silent inside.

Bitter jealousy churned inside her. All that she’d done, and Ethan still didn’t see her.

Big mistake.

She’d just wanted to back Clara into a corner, make her file for divorce herself. Instead, this whole mess had somehow made Ethan more protective of Clara.

Still, Ethan needed her. She just had to be smarter, more careful. There would always be another shot.

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< Chapter 29

Ethan stood in the entryway for a moment, then stepped inside, placing the wooden box on the coffee table.

“Dad.”

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Lucas had already sensed the tension. He’d seen Olivia leave, her eyes red-rimmed. He couldn’t help but ask, “Dad, did Auntie make you super

mad?”

Ethan looked down at his son’s upturned face.

“You really like her?”

he asked, a hint of bitterness in his voice that even he didn’t notice.

“Yeah!”

Lucas nodded.”Auntie buys me limited edition robots, and she always listens to

all

my

stories.”

“She’s nothing like… nothing like Mom. Mom can’t do anything but housework, that’s it. And lately? She’s been totally ignoring me.”

Ethan felt the words sting. His heart squeezed tight.

“She’s your mom.”

He pointed at the toys scattered across the floor.”She’d always pick these up for you, back when she was around.” Lucas finally caught on.”Dad,” he asked, “you don’t want Auntie to be my mom, do you?”

“But Grandma said, if it wasn’t for me, Mom would’ve never married into the Carter family. She wouldn’t be one of us.”

“And Dad, you don’t even like Mom, do you?”

If you don’t like Mom, then why, for all these years, did you keep it a secret she was Mrs. Carter? Lucas’s mom? Ethan choked. He ruffled Lucas’s hair.”Go play.”

He went upstairs. In his study, he pulled the egg-thawing consent form from a drawer.

He stared at the name signed on the document. Ethan’s brows knit together. He’d screwed up. A mistake he couldn’t undo.