Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 47

< Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Chris’s brow furrowed.”Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m positive.”

Clara nodded firmly.

Chris glanced at the two traffic cops.”Looks like this case needs to be transferred.”

Chris looked back at Clara.”Just watch your back. Anything goes down, hit me up.”

After Chris and the two cops left, the room fell silent.

Clara leaned back against the headboard. James was sick. Her mind wouldn’t quit.

After a beat, she grabbed her phone, calling James.

“Clara, how are you feeling?”

James’s voice sounded off, not its usual lively self. Clara frowned.

“Grandpa, I’m good. I just heard you were sick. How are you doing now?”

James chuckled on the other end.”It’s nothing, just my usual aches and pains. A couple days in bed and I’ll be good.”

“Don’t you worry about this old geezer. Your own health is way more important.”

“About the baby…”

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James paused, his breathing turning ragged.”It’s gone, it’s gone. Your body is what matters most. You’re still young. Heal up first, then we’ll figure things out.”

“Now that you know Eth and that woman are just business partners, you can finally relax. Try to make it work with him. No more talk about divorce, okay?”

“Get your health back. Have another baby. I’m still waiting to hold my great-grandchild, you know.”

Clara stared out the window at the gloomy sky. Her lashes trembled. She wanted to refuse, but then she thought about the Old Master’s health. The words got stuck in her throat. She just couldn’t say no.

She gave a soft hum.”Okay, Grandpa,” she said.

Clara put her phone down, exhaling slowly. Her chest felt tight.

Losing the baby had clearly hit James hard. His health couldn’t take another blow.

So, the divorce was on hold. She’d deal with it once she got the necklace and James was feeling better.

The baby, though…

Clara gave a wry

smile. For years, she and Ethan had been married in name only. Even their last kid had been IVF.

That was Ethan’s opening. He’d given her a child that wasn’t truly hers.

The memory of all those ovulation shots she’d taken to get pregnant hit her hard. That heavy ache in her stomach, the full-body bloat-it all came flooding back. The cold needle still felt like it was in her skin.

But in the end, that kid wasn’t even hers. No way in hell she’d go through IVF with Ethan again.

Clara rested at the hospital for two days. Once all her checks came back clear and they confirmed she was fine, she checked out.

She walked out of the hospital, about to pull up a ride-share app, when she spotted a black Bentley idling by the curb.

Ethan leaned against the car door, his black shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, showing off strong, defined wrists. His face was a blank slate.

“Get in. I’ll take you back.”

Clara stepped around him.”No, thanks. I need to go to the office first.”

Ethan moved, blocking her path.”When are you moving back home?”

“I’m not going back.”

Clara looked up, her gaze steady.”You said you wouldn’t interfere with my work once we had a kid. Now the baby’s gone, so I’m not coming

back.”

Ethan’s brow barely flickered. He didn’t reply, just pulled open the passenger door and stared her down.

The air crackled with tension, but Clara didn’t give a damn. She walked right past him, opened the car door, and slid into the back.

“My mother’s necklace. When can you get it back for me?”

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< Chapter 47

If it wasn’t for that necklace, how could she have let Ethan just take Olivia back to Boston without calling the cops?

“I’ve already contacted Mason. It’ll be in your hands ASAP.”

Ethan started the car.”Work’s been crazy lately, and now the old man wants me to… track down my brother.”

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Clara raised an eyebrow. Seven years of marriage, and she’d never heard Ethan had a brother. But what did it matter? Once this whole mess was sorted, they were getting divorced anyway.

The car pulled up to Nova AI. Clara opened the door and stepped out, oblivious to Ethan’s meaningful gaze from inside the car.

Upstairs, she found the R&D department. After a quick nod to the receptionist, Clara headed for the lab.

As she passed Olivia’s old R&D lab, Clara glanced inside. Sophia was there, typing away at a computer screen.

“Well, look who decided to show up, Clara.”

Sophia caught sight of her in her peripheral vision, her eyes full of scorn.”You said you’d take over Olivia’s work, right? And then you landed in the hospital in less than half a day. Do you even know how much we’ve fallen behind because of you?”

Clara saw Sophia. A flicker of surprise. Then it clicked. Sophia in R&D? Of course. She’d pass any background check. Blade was a joint venture, Nova AI and Carter Group. Carter Group would always send their own.

Clara had no intention of dealing with Sophia. She was about to turn away, heading for her own lab deeper down the hall, when a soft female voice cut through the air.

“Ms. Bennett.”

Clara turned, seeing Benjamin at the end of the hall, Natalie standing right beside him.

“Didn’t expect to see you here, Ms. Bennett.”

Natalie took two steps forward, only for Benjamin to subtly block her.

“What’s the hold-up, Mr. Hayes?”

Natalie shrugged, her tone light but with a hint of pressure.”I’m here representing Apex to discuss a partnership. Nova AI won’t even into the R&D lab? That doesn’t exactly scream ‘good faith,’ does it?”

let

me

Clara stepped forward, giving Natalie a slight nod.”Ms. Parker, my apologies. The R&D lab has strict confidentiality rules. Mr. Hayes is just following protocol.”

Natalie smiled, her gaze lingering on Clara’s face for a few seconds.”Didn’t realize you worked at Nova AI, Ms. Bennett. Quite the go-getter, aren’t you?”

Clara felt a flicker. “Can’t compare to you, Ms. Parker. Becoming Apex’s U.S. regional head at such a young age.”

Clara wasn’t in the mood to stand around chatting with Natalie.”Excuse me, Ms. Parker, I’ve got to get back to work.”

Clara stepped into the R&D lab. Ryan was hunched over his screen, brows furrowed, fingers drumming a soft rhythm on the desk, lost in the data.

“What’s up?”

Clara walked over.

Ryan looked up at the sound, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before he quickly masked it. He pointed at the screen. “Hit a wall. The anti-interference algorithm for Al in military electronic warfare just won’t stabilize.”

Clara leaned closer, her fingers flying across the keyboard to pull up a few data sets.”Adjust the adaptive filter parameters. Try this model.”

The curve on the screen smoothed out instantly. Ryan’s eyes lit up, snapping to Clara. The admiration in them was impossible to miss practically sparkling like a thousand stars.

“You” He started, but then he caught Clara’s questioning gaze and quickly looked away, clearing his throat. Anyway, Apex reps are here about a partnership. You think Nova Al should team up with them?”

Clara remembered the car crash, how Natalie had shown up and saved her. Now Natalie was here at Nova Al again. Something felt off.

Nova Al’s current major project, Blade, was top-tier classified national tech. They couldn’t afford to let their guard down.

“Apex’s HQ is in the UK, after all. The global situation is pretty tense right now. I think we need to be on guard.”

Ryan gave Clara a thoughtful look.”Got it.”

Clara gave him a curious glance, but didn’t dwell on why he’d say that.

Downstairs from Nova Al, inside a black Maybach, Jackson had an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips. He watched Nova Al’s main entrance, his tone oozing with gossip. “Dude, Ethan, seriously? You’re just waiting for Natalie, but you had to take my car and park it all the way out

here?”

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< Chapter 47

Ethan’s fingers paused mid-flip through his files. His voice was flat.”Clara works at Nova Al too. Wouldn’t look good if she saw me.”

Jackson scoffed, leaning back.”Since when did you ever care about her feelings?”

“Before, you and Olivia were practically glued at the hip right in front of her, and you never hid then.”

“Besides, everyone knows Clara only married you for the Carter family’s power, right?”

Ethan closed the file, looking up at Jackson. His eyes held no emotion, but it made Jackson inexplicably shut up.

“Too much?”

You couldn’t tell if he was asking Jackson or himself.

Jackson paused, scratching his head.”I guess… yeah, kinda.”

Ethan didn’t speak. He opened the file again, but his gaze just glazed over the words. Not a single one registered. An inexplicable irritation flared inside him.