Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 30

< Chapter 30

Chapter 30

The next day, Clara took half the day off and went to the cemetery.

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An early autumn chill nipped at Clara’s face. She crouched before Linda’s headstone, her fingertips tracing the gentle eyes and soft smile in her mother’s photo.

“Mom, Uncle ran the family company into the ground for some project. The brownstone you left me? It got seized and sold to Olivia.”

“But don’t worry, I’ll get that brownstone back. I promise.”

“What really kills me, though, is that Uncle would throw away all your and Grandpa’s years of hard work for just one project.”

“Mom, tell me, does family really mean nothing when money’s on the line?”

The gentle smile on her mother’s photo on the headstone offered no reply.

Clara covered her face. The pent-up hurt, like a dam breaking, streamed out between her fingers.

“Clara, I figured you’d be here.”

A familiar voice, laced with concern. Clara froze. She looked up. Emma stood a few feet away, a bouquet of white chrysanthemums in her

hands.

“Why are you here?”

Clara’s voice was thick, congested. She just stared at Emma.

She didn’t believe Emma was oblivious to Robert’s actions. Just like she didn’t believe Emma hadn’t known the pain Clara would feel once she and Mason got together.

Emma placed the flowers next to the gravestone.”I knew you’d show up here,” she said. “Still the same as when you were little. You always came here when you felt wronged.”

“Clara, you’re grown now. Don’t keep burdening Auntie with your troubles. She’ll worry.”

Clara stared at Emma for a few seconds, a lump forming in her throat.”But where else am I supposed to go?” she rasped.

“You and my uncle’s family were all the family I had left. And even you betrayed me.’

Emma’s eyes flickered, her voice dropping.

“I know about the company.”

“My dad was in the wrong here.”

“But Clara, you know the economy’s been rough these last few years. He was never as capable as your aunt, and after she died, it’s been super hard for him to keep the company running solo.”

“The family business was already drowning in debt. Even if he hadn’t pulled this, even without the Chicago East Side Development Site, bankruptcy was just a matter of time.”

“Now he’s got a new company, he landed the Chicago East Side Development Site, and the business is going to do so much better.”

‘I talked to the family. You still get 15% of the new company. Once Anderson Industries is liquidated, Mason and I will also cover the rest of your debts.”

She looked up at Clara.”But the house is already in Olivia’s name. There’s no getting it back now.”

I’ll buy you a flat downtown as compensation. Is that okay?”

“Compensation?”

Clara stood up, her knees stiff from crouching too long. She stumbled a bit before finding her balance.

“I don’t want your compensation. I just want the house my mom left me back.”

“I’ve talked to a lawyer. I had no idea about any of this crap my uncle pulled. He totally played me. And him shorting the company? That’s sketchy as hell. I’m not letting this go.”

Clara turned around. Her gaze cut through the sparse pines and met/a cold stare.

Mason stood under a camphor tree a little ways off. A cigarette was pinched between his fingers, smoke blurring his profile.

Clara took a few steps to the right, trying to walk around him.

‘Clara, you’re still so ungrateful.”

Mason’s voice reeked of smoke.”Emma found out about your situation. She had a massive fight with her family, didn’t sleep a wink all night.

have to be upset about?” And today, she came out looking for you first thing this morning, even with her pregnancy. What more do you

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“Yeah, you’re wronged, but she’s worried sick. Even if you hate your uncle, you can’t give her attitude, can you?” “Who are you trying to make pity you, putting on this show?”

Clara froze, looked up at Mason, a faint, mocking smile on her face.

“They screwed me over, blacklisted me, and gave my mom’s house to the person I hate most. And I’m not allowed to be upset?” “If you’re so damn generous, why’d you go abroad, busting your ass to get back your Walker family’s fortune?”

like this.”

“You left me here, didn’t care what happened to me, just watched me marry someone else, and fall apart Mason’s eyes narrowed. His knuckles went white, clutching the cigarette. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He was seriously pissed.

“Clara, you really know how to hit where it hurts…”

“Mason!”

Emma saw him practically ready to throw hands and rushed over, grabbing Mason’s arm.

“Clara’s just upset. Don’t take it personally.”

She then looked at Clara, a hint of apology in her eyes.”Clara, don’t let it get to you. He’s just looking out for me.”

Clara watched them, and suddenly, something clicked.

That night she ended up with Ethan, her drink had been spiked.

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And the only reason she’d even carried that drink over to toast Ethan was because her uncle pushed her to, to “network” with the Carter family. Her uncle had just conned her into selling off her childhood home for Ethan’s support.

So what about that drink back then? Could it have been…

“Cousin.”

Clara’s voice went tight.”Are you hiding something from me?”

“What?”

Emma shot a quick glance at Mason, her eyes flickering.

“Clara, what are you talking about?”

Clara stared at Emma for a long moment. Emma looked totally composed, like she genuinely knew nothing. Clara shook her head.

“It’s nothing.”

She was overthinking it. Emma had already moved abroad back then. Even if her uncle had spiked the drink, with an ocean between them, Emma likely wouldn’t have known a thing.

Besides, her uncle had the guts to scheme against her, but not Ethan.

After all, the Anderson family versus the Carter family? Zero chance.

Emma subtly let out a breath.”Clara, I know you’re mad at Dad, but come on, we grew up together. Don’t let this come between us”

“It’s almost noon. Are you hungry? How about we grab some southern cuisine, that place you used to love?”

Before Clara could even reply, her phone suddenly rang.

It was Benjamin.

‘Clara, can you come back to the office?”

“Your proposal got greenlit by the higher-ups. They’re putting together an R&D team, and they specifically asked for you to head it up.” Clara hung up. She gave Emma a quick smile. “Sorry, cuz, work thing. Gotta head back.”

Mason watched Clara disappear, then snuffed out his cigarette in the trash.

“Look at her, acting like the world owes her a damn thing. And you still worry about her?” he scoffed.

“Don’t say that,” Emma cut in.

She gave his arm a light pinch, but a sly twinkle danced in her eyes. “She’s my cousin, after all,” Emma said.”How could I not care?” “Besides, you know how she is. She’s always been so cool and detached “But I think she’s genuinely pissed this time. She even brought up

Mason’s

s flickered. He slid an arm around Emma’s shoulder, guiding her down

eyes

everyone.”

steps,”

“Watch

your step,” he mumbled.

O 12:45

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< Chapter 30

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“That’s her business,” Mason said dismissively. “Why do you even care? She didn’t bother telling you when she married into the Carter family,

did she?”

Clara walked out of the cemetery, shot a glance back, then hopped in her car. Drove straight to Nova AI.

She parked her car in the lot, then headed for the elevator. In the distance, a familiar figure. Clara stopped cold.

Ethan got out of a black Bentley. He’d been waiting. A pile of cigarette butts on the ground proved it.

“What are you doing here?”

Clara looked at Ethan. He was standing with the light behind him, the overhead hall lights sketching his outline in a cold, white glow.

“Waiting for you.”

Clara said nothing. She watched Ethan lean into the car, pull out a paper bag. From it, he produced a mahogany box, carved with intricate lotus patterns.

Clara took the box. Her fingers brushed the smooth, warm wood, and her breath hitched.

She’d gone to the house yesterday, found it trashed. Searched forever for this box. Thought it was lost.

“And this.”

The red property deed cover practically burned her eyes. Clara flipped it open. Her name, bold as day, was on the owner line. Registered today. “I had workers start restoring the yard, making it look like it used to. Whenever you have time, go check it out. If anything’s off, just tell them.”

“Thanks.”

Clara sniffed, meeting Ethan’s gaze. Her eyes were firm. “But Ethan, no matter what you do, I’m still divorcing you.”

She’d get the yard back eventually. And if her mother’s keepsakes were truly gone, she’d make Diane pay, no matter what.

What Ethan had done saved her a ton of hassle, sure. But the whole mess was his fault to begin with, and he’d hurt her. Her “thanks” was just polite, adult bullshit.

“Why?”

Ethan frowned.”After the baby’s born, I won’t interfere with your work anymore.”

Clara’s mouth twisted into a mocking smirk.”Ethan, I am not your baby-making machine.”