Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 37

< Chapter 37

Chapter 37

A frantic knock on the door jolted Clara awake.

She yawned, walked to the door, and peered through the peephole.

It was David, standing outside, clutching a file folder.

Then it clicked

–

her agreement with Ethan from last night. He was here with the papers.

Menu

She opened the door a crack.”Hand over the papers.”

Clara took the papers and scanned them carefully, making sure Ethan had voluntarily given up on buying the necklace from Mason.

Clara signed her name at the bottom, kept one copy for herself, and slid the other back through the door crack.

“Tell Ethan, I’ll be at Lucas’s school tomorrow.”

With that, she moved to shut the door, but David stopped her.”Mrs. Carter, wait.”

“Something else?”

Clara asked, confused.

David put away the papers.”Mr. Carter sent me to drive you to the office.”

“No thanks. I’d rather drive myself.”

Clara shut the door.

They were practically divorced already, and she wasn’t about to be seen getting out of Ethan’s car.

David’s smile froze. He just turned, went downstairs, and got into the car.

“Where is she?”

Ethan was in the back seat, going through some files.

“Mrs. Bennett said she’s driving herself to the company.”

The temperature in the car dropped instantly. David’s heart sank. After a beat, Ethan finally spoke, “Let’s go.”

No sooner had the black luxury sedan pulled away than a white SUV exited the complex parking lot.

Clara got an early start today. When she got to Nova Al, the office was still pretty empty. Walking into the R&D lab, she was surprised to find Ryan already there.

Seeing Clara, he handed her a file.”These are the latest iteration results. If all goes well, we’ll have preliminary data by the day after tomorrow. Then we can start integrating with Carter Group’s ‘Skyline’ project.”

Clara took the file and scanned it.”Hmm, looks good. Oh, by the way, I have something tomorrow. You’ll be fine handling things here alone, right?”

A flicker crossed Ryan’s eyes. “No problem at all.”

The next day, Clara waited at the school entrance at the time Ethan had given her.

The familiar black car pulled up to the curb. The door opened, and out stepped Olivia.

She turned, lifting Lucas out of the car. Lucas whispered something, and she laughed, playfully booping his nose. It was incredibly sweet.

But the moment Lucas spotted Clara, his smile vanished. He took off, running straight to her.

“What are you doing here?”

“Your dad sent me for your orientation.”

But now, it seemed, she wasn’t needed.

Clara’s gaze fell on Olivia, standing behind Lucas.

Suddenly, one of Lucas’s kindergarten classmates wandered over. The kid’s eyes went wide, spotting them. He piped up, “Luke, is that your

mom?”

Lucas took a step back, putting distance between himself and Clara.No.”

He pointed at Olivia behind him.”She’s my mom.”

His classmate left. Lucas breathed out. He frowned at Clara.”You need to leave. Now. Before anyone sees you.”

Clara said nothing, her eyes on Olivia.

“Why are you looking at her like that?”

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He noticed her stare and instantly stepped in front of Olivia. “Don’t try anything with Auntie. You ignored me, so I decided I didn’t want you as my mom anymore. I chose Auntie to be my mom.”

“Luke, don’t say that.”

Olivia took Luke’s hand. “Ms. Bennett, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you’d be here today. If I had, I wouldn’t have come.”

“Auntie, why are you apologizing to her?”

Lucas pulled Olivia further into the school.”Let’s go. Ignore her.”

Clara stood there, a mocking smirk curving her lips.

Lucas was the one who sent her away. She wasn’t breaking any promises.

Clara turned to leave, but a voice called out from nearby:”Lila? Has Lila’s parent arrived?”

She glanced over. Lila stood at the very end of the line, all by herself. Pink dress, bunny backpack, head bowed. Her little hands picked at the hem of her uniform.

No

way. Lila went to this school too.

Clara remembered the hesitation in Ryan’s eyes yesterday when she’d asked for leave.

Ah. That’s why he hadn’t mentioned his daughter’s orientation. She’d asked for time off first, and he must have been worried about the R&D lab data, afraid it would delay things.

A pang of guilt and sympathy hit Clara. She hurried over.

“Teacher, I’m Lila’s dad’s coworker.”

“He had an urgent work thing come up, couldn’t make it. He asked me to pick her up.”

Lila looked up, saw Clara, and her embarrassment melted away, replaced by pure surprise.”Auntie!”

“Mm-hm.”

Clara walked to her side, took her hand.”I’m here.”

On the playground, the principal finally wrapped up his super-long speech. He told all the homeroom teachers to bring their students and parents back to class. They were supposed to hold parent-child activities, so everyone could get a better feel for the school.

In Lila’s class, they were playing “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

A cartoon bear face was on the blackboard. Missing its nose. The teacher passed out round stickers. Then, she dropped the rules: “Parents, blindfolded, spin three times.””Kids, you’re the guides.””Nail the nose? You win.”

The moment the blindfold covered Clara’s eyes, she heard Lila whisper right into her ear, “Don’t be scared, Aunt Clara. I’ll tell you exactly where to go.”

“Go!”

The teacher gave the go-ahead. Clara got spun around three times, hands guiding her, and instantly felt lightheaded, stumbling a bit.

‘A little to the left!”

Lila’s voice was urgent, but she kept it soft.”Okay, just half a step forward… Stop!”

Clara froze, feeling the little girl’s tiny hand gently tug her shirt.”It’s right here, just stick it down a smidge!”

She pressed the sticker down, just as Lila said. The second she ripped off the blindfold, applause filled the room.

Looking at the blackboard, the bear’s nose was perfectly centered, right where it belonged.

Lila had already jumped up, hugging her waist and swaying.”You’re amazing, Auntie! Way better than Dad last time, he stuck it on its ear!*

Clara laughed, bending down to ruffle her hair.”That’s because Lils gave great directions.”

The little girl looked up, her eyes sparkling like they held stars.”Can we play again? This time I’ll be blindfolded, and Auntie Clara can direct

me!”

Clara looked at her eager eyes, and the part of her heart Lucas had turned ice-cold suddenly warmed up.

She pulled a fruit drop from her bag, unwrapped it, and offered it.”Here’s your prize.”

Lila popped the candy in her mouth, grinning, showing off her two cute little fangs. “Thanks, Auntie Clara.”

Clara’s heart gave a soft thump. It felt warm and fuzzy, a little bittersweet. She didn’t notice Lucas outside the classroom, his eyes glued on

them.

He remembered when Clara used to come to the old house as a kid. She’d play games with him. She’d smile gently, cook him his favorite treats. Even her habit of carrying candy? That was because fruit drops were his favorite.

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Then a thought hit him. Olivia’s words, from before:”If your mom has another baby, a little brother, she’ll forget all about you.” A knot twisted in his gut. His gaze dropped to Clara’s stomach.

The ceremony ended. Clara was just walking out of school, hand-in-hand with Lila, when she spotted Ryan by the school gate.

“Daddy!”

Lila pulled free from Clara’s hand and practically dove into Ryan’s arms.

Ryan picked up his daughter. “Lila,” he started, “I’m so sorry, I-”

Then he spotted the familiar figure behind Lila. He froze for a second.”Clara?”

Clara nodded at him. “Sorry, I was here for my son’s orientation and just found out Lila was here too. So I hung out with her for a bit.”

“Dad, you have no idea! Auntie Clara was so cool today!”

Lila squirmed in Ryan’s arms. “To thank Auntie Clara for hanging out with me today, can we take her out to dinner?”

Clara was about to answer when a respectful voice spoke up from behind her.”Madam.”

She turned around. It was James’s driver.

“Mr. Carter isn’t feeling well,” he said. “He’s been asking about you. I came to pick up the Young Master and saw you here. Would you mind coming with us to the old estate?”

Ryan’s expression shifted, almost imperceptibly. He took a few steps back, then whispered something to Lila and set her down.

Lila walked up to Clara, tugging on her shirt.”Auntie, since you’re busy, Dad and I will get going. Bye now!”

With that, she turned and ran after Ryan’s retreating figure.

Mers

Clara gave the father-daughter duo a weird look. She turned back to see Lucas standing next to the driver, a long, sulky face. He looked totally unwilling.

“Let’s go.”

Clara ignored him, walking straight to the car parked by the curb.

She thought about how James had always favored her and taken care of her over the years. In the end, she just couldn’t bring herself to refuse. Not far off, Olivia watched it all, a cryptic smile playing on her lips.