Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 32

< Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Nova Al R&D Department.

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Clara and Benjamin were going over the R&D team’s roster. Her eyes caught on a name: Ryan Walker. He looked familiar. Benjamin followed her gaze, a small smile playing on his lips.”This guy? Seriously next-level. Top grad from State University. Military snagged him before he even finished. He’s been doing AI tactical simulations for them for years, specializing in battlefield adaptive algorithms.”

“Too bad he got his leg messed up last month on a border mission,” Benjamin continued.”That’s why he’s transitioning to civilian work.” Clara stopped writing. Respect flooded her.

“He’s got real combat experience, a military background. I say we make him the R&D team lead. I’ll work under him.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.”

Benjamin chuckled.”Honestly, I thought you might object.”

“Why would I?”

Clara closed the file. She’d be heading back to the institute after this project anyway.

“He’s actually reporting in today. We should go talk to him.”

Benjamin suggested.

“Sounds good.”

Clara stood up.”The seminar’s this afternoon. Get the materials ready, he can lead it.”

They stepped out of the office. A tall, lean man was crouched down, patiently fixing the crooked pigtails of the little girl in his arms.

The little girl’s eyes lit up when she spotted Clara. She tugged on the man’s collar, her voice bright.”Daddy! That pretty lady is the one who put the Band-Aid on me!”

Ryan looked up at the sound, standing with the child.”Thanks.”

“No problem, Mr. Walker.”

Clara got straight to it.”Mr. Hayes and I reviewed your file. We’d like you to lead the ‘Blade’ project development. What do you say?”

Ryan looked troubled.”I appreciate the confidence, but it’s just me with my girl. I’m worried the workload will be too much, and I won’t be able to manage both.”

“Her mom?” Clara asked.

The words were out before Clara could stop herself.

Ryan’s voice dropped.”She was killed in action last year.”

The office went silent.

Benjamin, an ex-military man himself, felt a pang.”Ryan, why not bring her here? We have a lounge, and anyone free can help keep an eye on her.”

Ryan felt a surge of gratitude.”Alright.”

Clara smiled. “Then it’s settled. Let’s get those workshop materials prepped.”

The little girl went to the lounge, got some paper and pencils from the receptionist, and quietly started drawing. No fuss, no trouble.

Olivia arrived half an hour early. Clara, Benjamin, and Ryan were still hammering out the final plan, so they hadn’t gotten a chance to welcome her yet.

The front desk led her to the lounge. She spotted a kid in the corner and frowned”Nova Al’s this unprofessional?” she griped. Bringing kids to meetings? Seriously?”

The receptionist explained, “That’s Engineer Walker’s daughter from R&D, School’s out, and no one’s around to watch her.”

Olivia scoffed. Her gaze swept over the little girl, disgust flashing in her eyes, then snapped away. She just settled back, burying herself in her

files.

Once the time came, she stood up and walked toward the conference room. Her steps hitched the moment she saw Clara sitting right there next to Ryan.

How the hell is Clara sitting at the head of the table?

Olivia’s face twisted, remembering their last encounter. Clara on the R&D team? And a Nova Al employee? Clara would absolutely try to sabotage her at work.

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< Chapter 32

But then the seminar started. Olivia saw Ryan was the main speaker. And Clara? She was just taking notes. Olivia finally relaxed.

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Looks like with Clara’s qualifications, she’s only fit for admin. Nowhere near the R&D center. Benjamin probably just gave her a shot because of the Carter family’s name anyway.

During the meeting, Ryan clarified the battlefield data collection for the tactical Al and the optimization of friend-or-foe identification algorithms. He finalized the next research steps.

After the meeting, everyone started a group chat. Benjamin suggested they all hang out to get to know each other better.

The group headed downstairs from the Nova AI building. Olivia paused, spotting a black Bentley parked outside.

“Ms. Bennett, wanna come?”

Someone called out to her.

“Nah, I can’t.”

She smiled and waved, her tone friendly but with a hint of distance.”Got some family stuff. Another time, for sure.”

“Isn’t that Mr. Carter’s car, from Carter Group?”

Someone asked, curious.

“Looks like the rumors are true. Mr. Carter is really good to his girlfriend, Ms Bennett.”

The words reached Olivia’s ears. She smiled at the person, pulled open the car door, and got in.

Jackson, from the passenger seat, passed her a water bottle.”You’re really something else,” he said.”Getting to work on super-confidential R&D like that.”

Olivia took the water, her eyes flicking to Ethan, who was still staring down at his files beside her.

“Honestly, it was all Eth. She pulled some strings for me. Otherwise, I never would’ve gotten a look-in.”

“Oh, and I saw Ms. Bennett at the seminar too. She’s seriously sharp. Had all the meeting’s key points perfectly organized.”

Jackson scoffed.”Her skills? Please. She’s not all that. She literally tried to scheme you out of the research institute. Thought Professor Lewis would finally give her the time of day if you were gone. And now? She’s just doing grunt work at Nova AI.”

“But hey, it all worked out. Mason from Walker Venture Partners believed in you, and Eth even helped you set up that research team at Carter Group. Total blessing in disguise.”

Olivia glanced at Ethan, who remained silent, and smiled.

The streetlights flickered on. Clara turned down Benjamin’ offer for a drink. She pulled her car out of the parking lot. Under a streetlight, she spotted Ryan, cradling a little girl who was fighting a yawn.

“Where to?”

Clara pulled her car over to the curb, rolling down the window.”Need a ride?”

Ryan took a step back, holding the kid. He was about to say no when the little girl, all excited, chirped, “Yay! Yay! We live in River North!”

Clara unlocked the car.”Funny enough,” she said, “I live there too.”

Ryan’s refusal died on his lips. He got in, kid still tucked in his arms.

“Thanks, Miss!” the little girl chirped.

The little girl settled into the back seat, buckling up.”Hi,” she chirped.”My name’s Lila Walker, and this is my dad, Ryan.”

Clara chuckled at the little girl’s adorable voice.”Alright, I’m Clara. Your dad and I are gonna be colleagues now, so be nice to me, Lila.”

“Then, Auntie, please help me take care of Daddy from now on!”

Lila grabbed Ryan’s arm, gave it a pat. She was totally like the grown-up comforting a kid.

The car pulled into River North. Lila was already asleep, slumped against Ryan’s shoulder. He thanked her softly, “Sorry for the trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” she said.”Lila’s a sweetheart.”

Clara smiled, watching the father and daughter walk off. Then she turned and stepped into the elevator.

As soon as she was out of the elevator, Clara noticed a missed call. She unlocked her door with her fingerprint while calling back.

“Hello? Mia.”

“Clara, seriously, what’s up with you and Ethan? He showed up at my place today, looking furious.”

Clara paused, jacket half off.”It’s nothing. Don’t even bother with him.”

Looks like Ethan’s in a rush to drag her back and make her ‘nest.’ Time to fast-track the divorce, then.

12:45

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< Chapter 32

Meru

The divorce papers she’d handed Ethan earlier? Still nothing. After all this time, a mutual agreement was clearly a bust.

Clara walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the river of car lights flowing far below. Her fingers scrolled through her contacts.

‘Hey, Attorney Brown? It’s me. How’s that evidence collection coming along?