Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 50

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Chapter 50

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“Mom, what are you doing here?”

Ethan shielded Clara with one arm, still gripping Margaret’s wrist, his face grim.

Margaret scoffed.”If I hadn’t come, Luke would’ve been in big trouble!”

“Clara locked Luke inside all by himself and only took this little girl out. If Luke hadn’t called me, crying, and I rushed over, who knows what could’ve happened!”

“I just said a few things to her, and she totally cussed me out, disrespecting me at every turn!”

“Alright, Mom.”

Ethan’s gaze swept over the chaotic mess on the floor, finally landing on Lucas.

He’d brought Lucas from the old family home to Clara, hoping they’d bond and mend their relationship.

But he never expected things to turn out like this.

Seeing Ethan’s face darken, Lucas instinctively shrank back, mumbling, “Dad…”

Ethan ignored him, turning to Margaret.”Mom, stop spoiling Luke so much. Clara’s still his mother, no matter what. He can’t even show her basic respect. What kind of example is that?”

Margaret opened her mouth to argue, but seeing the seriousness in Ethan’s eyes, she shut it.”I get it,” she mumbled.

Before, she’d seen her son despise Clara and figured they’d divorce eventually. To keep Luke from getting attached and making a fuss, she’d often badmouth Clara in front of him.

But now that Ethan had made his stance clear, she just wouldn’t say those things anymore.

“Mhm. Take Luke home, Mom.”

Ethan sighed. “I’ll clean this up.”

Once Margaret left with Lucas, Chris stepped up. He clapped Ethan’s shoulder, a touch of resignation in his voice.”My aunt? The family spoiled her rotten since she was a kid.”

“She married into the Carter family, your dad spoiled her. After he passed, your grandpa and you always had her back. Her whole life’s been smooth sailing, so yeah, she’s a bit spoiled and entitled. Don’t let it get to you.”

Then he turned to Clara.”Sorry, Ms. Bennett. When I got here, Lucas was crying inside, and my aunt was crying outside. Things were frantic, I kind of busted your lock.”

“I’ll send someone to swap it out for you?”

Clara shook her head.”Nah, no need. I’ve caused you enough trouble today.”

“I have another lock. I can just swap it out myself in a bit. You should head back to work, don’t delay your real job.”

After Chris left, Clara grabbed the fingerprint lock from the storage closet. She was about to unbox it when Ethan spoke up. “I’ll do it.”

He undid his cuffs, rolling his sleeves up to his forearms. He took the toolbox and lock from her, setting them on the ground. Then, he pulled a velvet box from his pocket and held it out to Clara.

“Sorry for the stress,” he said.”This is the necklace.”

Clara opened the box. The sapphire gleamed under the light. It was definitely the one her mom had been searching for.

“Thanks.”

‘Mm.’

Ethan crouched down, unwrapping the smart lock. He rummaged through the toolbox, searching for the right tools.

As if handing the necklace to Clara was no big deal.

Clara watched him, surprised he actually looked like he was going to install the lock himself. She stepped closer.”You know how to do that? I

can take care of it.”

“No need. I got it.”

Ethan examined the damaged lock cylinder, metal parts scattered on the ground.”I changed one before when I was studying in the UK,” he said. Just follow the instructions.”

The wrench clinked against the screwdriver. He deftly fitted the new cylinder into the lock body.

Barely fifteen minutes later, Ethan had the new lock installed. He tested it, made sure it was solid, then closed the door. Next, he grabbed a basin of water from the bathroom and started scrubbing down the sofa Lucas had made a total mess of.

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Lila, ever helpful, cleared off the coffee table and used wet wipes to clean the scribbles off the walls.

Luckily, the crayons and markers were washable. Soon enough, the place was good as new.

Clara watched them, a wave of mixed emotions washing over her. This was something she’d only ever dreamed of.

Her and Ethan, like a normal couple, cleaning up the mess their kid made.

But it took years, and them on the verge of divorce, for it to finally happen.

“Take a break.”

She saw sweat beading on Ethan’s forehead, so she poured him a glass of water.

“Mhm.”

Ethan took the glass, gulping it down. He caught her looking at him from the corner of his eye, and something inside him just melted.

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What if he’d just explained more about Olivia back then? What if he’d actually listened to what she said? Would things between them not be so messed up right now?

“When are you moving back?”

He wanted her back. He’d come home on time, and they’d actually live a good life together.

But Clara’s eyes went cold the moment he said it.

He saw her reaction, and Ethan quickly backpedaled.”No big deal if you don’t want to move back. Staying here is totally fine.”

Plenty of time. Take it slow.

Ethan told himself not to rush things. He glanced at Lila, standing quietly, and smiled.”This little girl is so cute. Are you hungry? How about I take you and Clara out to eat?”

Clara checked her watch. Almost quitting time. She wondered how Ryan was doing. She needed to get Lila back to him.

“No thanks,” she said.”I’m taking Lila to the office.”

The three of them headed down to the parking garage. Clara and Lila got in her car.

Ethan stood there, watching her taillights disappear. He remembered going to Sky Ridge with Olivia before, terrified Clara would expose their relationship and get kicked out.

Now he was the one offering, but she didn’t even care enough to be surprised about dinner.

A knot tightened in his chest. Ethan got into the driver’s seat and lit a cigarette.

In Nova AI’s R&D lab, Ryan was hunched over a computer screen, fingers flying across the keyboard, a blur of motion.

He glanced up as Clara walked in.”Found the intruder’s terminal. It’s an internal IP.”

He pointed at the data streaming across the screen.”I set up a double encryption. Only we can see the core data. Even if they try to hack in again, they’ll only see junk data, nothing important. And we’ll use that to pinpoint them.”

“Don’t worry. Yesterday was a rush, so they only managed to break through the first firewall layer. They didn’t get any of our classified info.

Clara breathed a sigh of relief, genuinely impressed.”Wow, I had no idea you were this good.”

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Ryan just smiled, not saying anything. Back in the military, his main gig was network security and intel. If anyone could steal secrets on his watch, that would be a total joke.

His stomach grumbled, the sound ridiculously loud in the quiet lab.

Ryan’s ears flushed slightly. Clara couldn’t help but grin.”Still haven’t eaten? I’ll order takeout.”

The takeout arrived quickly. While the three of them ate, a screen in the lab suddenly flashed green.

“We got it!”

Clara leaned in to look. The second phase test data was flawless.

Now, it’s just a matter of integrating the core module into Blade.

Finally, we can catch a break for a few days.

Since all three lived in the same complex, Clara drove Ryan and Lila home. In the parking lot, Lila hugged Clara’s neck tight, not letting go. Aunt Clara, can I come play with you again?”

“Of course you can.”

Clara gave her cheek a playful squeeze, watching Ryan carry his daughter away, still faintly catching their conversation.

‘Aunt Clara was so nice today. Her son told her I pushed him, but she didn’t blame me. Instead, she asked what really happened…”

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“Then, that old lady said I had no mom to teach me right, and Aunt Clara even stuck up for me…”

Lila snuggled into Ryan’s arms.”She’s really just like my mom. So gentle.”

Ryan silently patted her back, listening to her little voice ramble on.

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“Oh, and later, this super scary-looking uncle came. He chased everyone away, helped Auntie change the locks, cleaned up her place. He even said he’d take us out for a big dinner!”

“But Auntie didn’t go. I bet she was thinking you’d be all alone, Dad, so she brought me to eat with you instead!”

Ryan’s hand paused on her back.”Huh. Well, I’m certainly honored.”

Their voices faded. Clara smiled, turned, and headed for the elevator. Then she saw him. A tall figure leaning against a car by the building entrance, smoking. The cigarette glowed, bright then dim, in the fading light.

Seeing Clara approach, Ethan stubbed out his cigarette.”Who was that guy?”