Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 42

< Chapter 42

Chapter 42

“The baby is gone? What the hell do you mean?”

Ethan’s pupils snapped shut. He staggered, his face draining of color.

Didn’t you tell me on the phone it was just… she was in a confined space too long, a little short on oxygen?

The doctor eyed him, cautious.”Ms. Bennett’s lower abdomen took a hit recently. The fetus was already unstable.”

“Add the oxygen deprivation, which led to insufficient blood supply. By the time she reached the hospital, the baby was gone.” Clara froze. She’d aborted the baby a month ago. Why was the doctor saying this?

“A hit?”

Ethan’s brow furrowed in thought. Then it hit him. David had told him earlier that afternoon Lucas had kicked Clara in the stomach. He’d seen Clara fine that afternoon, thought it wasn’t serious. He had no idea…

His heart squeezed, an invisible vice gripping it. A dull, persistent ache spread through his chest. But at the same time, a faint, almost imperceptible sense of relief snaked through him.

This baby. Maybe it was for the best.

Anyway, he’d kept his promise to that person. Now the baby was gone, it wasn’t like he’d broken his word.

But Clara’s body…

Ethan closed his eyes.

At least he still had Clara. And Lucas.

Lucas. The thought of him made Ethan’s face darken. He glanced at David, who was still posted outside the room.

“Go to the old house. Get Lucas.”

“And get the surveillance footage from outside Nova AI’s R&D lab. Every single frame. Don’t miss anything.”

“She got hurt at Nova AI. Benjamin owes us an explanation. A big one.”

David nodded, then turned and left. He’d barely reached the hallway corner when a figure flashed past.

He paused, looking, but saw nothing. He shook his head and hurried off.

He got into the elevator. A figure then emerged from around the corner.

Ryan watched David’s retreating back for a few seconds. Then he headed for Clara’s room.

Ethan’s low voice filtered out from the crack in the door:”The baby’s gone, it’s gone. Don’t be too sad. Your health comes first. You can have more kids later.”

Ryan froze. So Clara’s husband was Ethan.

Huh. Talk about a twisted fate.

Ryan’s lips twisted into a cynical smirk. He quietly backed away, taking one last look at the room before hitting the elevator.

Clara leaned against the headboard, her gaze locked on the IV drip. Ethan’s words rang hollow, pure irony.

More kids?

Was Ethan seriously thinking of implanting another embryo of his and Olivia’s inside her?

Dream on.

She was naive before, letting him convince her to do IVF. She wouldn’t be that stupid again.

Ethan watched Clara’s gaze fall, silent. He reached over, tucking in her blanket.”Anything else feel off? I’ll grab the doctor.”

Clara stared at him, confused.

He found out the baby was gone and didn’t even get mad. He was actually gentle.

Guilt?

Please. When had Ethan ever felt guilty about her?

Suddenly, the door to the room burst open.

Ethan turned around. Margaret stood at the door with Lucas, her face a storm.

“Mom, what are you…?”

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Ethan got up to meet her, but Margaret was already storming to Clara’s bedside. She pointed a finger right at Clara’s nose.”Clara, you jinx! You can’t even keep a baby! The Carter family must’ve pissed off every god in heaven to get stuck with a woman like you!”

“If you hadn’t drugged him and crawled into his bed back then, do you honestly think Eth would’ve married you?”

“You thought you were hot shit when you were pregnant. Well, look at you now! Baby’s gone. Let’s see you gloat.”

Ethan stared at Margaret, completely stunned. He never thought his usually classy and put-together mother would blurt out their past like that, especially with Lucas right there.

“Mom, what happened back then wasn’t Clara’s fault…”

He tried to explain, but Margaret cut him off.”If it wasn’t her fault, whose fault was it then?”

“What, the baby’s gone, and you’re still defending her?”

Ethan’s eyes darkened. He felt utterly exhausted.

Was this how Clara had been living all these years?

“Mom, stop talking.”

Guilt twisted in his gut for Clara. His voice rose, almost a shout.

Margaret froze, pinned by his sharp tone.”Eth, you… you’re yelling at me for her?”

She’d served the Carter family for decades. When had Ethan ever yelled at her like that?

Ethan didn’t even look at her, his eyes fixed on Clara’s pale profile. “She just lost our baby. She’s already messed up. Just cut it out.”

Margaret gasped, choked. She clutched her chest, stumbling back a step.

Clara didn’t even flinch at their mother-son drama. Her eyelids stayed shut, like Margaret’s harsh words were meant for someone else entirely. She was already so used to her mother-in-law’s nasty attitude. If she let it get to her, it would’ve killed her by now.

Still, a sharp little jab hit her heart.

Lucas stood nervously behind Margaret. Once he knew the baby was gone, he subtly let out a breath. A flicker of secret joy crossed his eyes. Perfect. No more little brother. From now on, he’d be the only child in the Carter family. All the attention would be on him.

Ethan caught that subtle expression.

“Lucas, what are you smiling about?”

Clara was his mom!

He saw Clara, pale, in that hospital bed. And he wasn’t worried at all?

Ethan remembered Olivia being sick, how Lucas had been so attentive, showering her with care. It sent a chill down Ethan’s spine.

Lucas flinched, quickly dropping his gaze.”N-nothing. I wasn’t smiling.”

Ethan stared him down, his voice chilling.”Do you even realize that baby would’ve been fine if you hadn’t kicked your mom’s stomach?” “Why did you kick her?”

“Tell me!”

Lucas flinched, tears welling up in his eyes.”I-I swear I didn’t mean it. I just didn’t want a little brother!”

“If Mom had a little brother, Dad wouldn’t love me anymore.”

“Even Great-Grandpa was getting a room ready for him, and gave him stocks! But I got nothing!”

SMACK! Ethan slammed his hand down on the nightstand. The glass rattled, humming.

Rage practically spilled from his eyes. “Who taught you to talk like that?”

Lucas had never seen Ethan so furious. He shivered.”It-It was Auntie…”

Clara froze. Olivia was his bio mom, right?

Why would she manipulate Lucas into hurting her?

Ethan’s eye twitched.

Olivia?

She pushed Lucas to harm Clara’s baby?

She had that much nerve?

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< Chapter 42

“Bullshit!”

Ethan stared Lucas down, his eyes cold.”She has no reason to do that.”

Mera

Margaret snapped to attention. She stared at Lucas, a storm of anger and fear in her eyes, but she still moved, shielding her grandson. “Eth,” she snapped, “He’s just a kid. Don’t you dare scare him.”

Ethan closed his eyes. When they reopened, only exhaustion remained.”David,” he said, “take him back. He’s grounded.”

Margaret still wanted to argue, but she met her son’s icy stare and swallowed her words. She pulled Lucas out.

The hospital room finally fell silent.

Ethan walked to the bed, looking at Clara’s pale profile. He didn’t know what to say for a moment. Finally, he spoke, “Luke’s totally spoiled by my mom. He’s just… thoughtless. Doesn’t know when to stop.”

“Once you’re better, we’ll bring him back. We’ll set him straight.”

“And this whole thing… it probably wasn’t Olivia.”

Clara just twisted her lips into a sneer. She didn’t say a word, just stared at him, pure mockery in her eyes.

“Olivia’s that important to you, Ethan? Important enough to just let even this go?”

“I… I didn’t.”

Ethan hesitated for a beat.”She wouldn’t do that.”

“I already sent David to check the security footage. If… if Olivia is really involved, she’s gonna pay.”

“Stop dwelling on it so much. Haven’t you always wanted your mom’s necklace? I’ll get it for you, okay?”

Clara went silent. She really wanted her mother’s necklace.

Ethan might’ve signed an agreement not to fight her for it, but even if Clara managed to scrape together ten million bucks, Mason wasn’t just gonna hand it over.

Having Ethan handle it would be way easier.

So, no point stressing over it now. She’d deal with it once she had the necklace.

Clara nodded.”Okay.”

Ethan hadn’t expected her to agree so fast. He looked at Clara, a knot of worry in his gut. He just knew she was holding something back. He was about to say something when his phone buzzed.

David’s voice was a little rushed through the phone.”Boss, Nova AI footage is ready. Just sent it to your phone. Check it out.”