Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 53

< Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Menu

Inside the supermarket, ignoring the curious looks, Clara went straight to the general merchandise section, grabbed a large umbrella, paid for it, and waited near the entrance until Ryan emerged.

“Here, take these.”

Ryan handed Clara a shopping bag.

“What’s this?”

Clara instinctively took it, opened it, and paused, surprised.

Inside, she found a plush hair-drying cap, an over-the-knee dress, and a short trench coat.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I just grabbed these. Hope you don’t hate them.”

Mason pointed towards the restroom in the corner of the supermarket.”Go change. Those wet clothes will give you a chill.”

“And make sure to wrap your hair up. You don’t want to catch a cold with wet hair in this wind.”

Clara clutched the shopping bag, her fingers tracing the soft fabric. A sudden warmth bloomed in her chest.

These past few days, she’d endured accusations, suspicion, and the struggle to prove her innocence. She’d barely escaped the National Security Agency, only to be dragged into a car, then dumped in the rain by Mason, forced to watch her husband shield another woman while she stood there, abandoned. Not a single tear had fallen.

But now, faced with Ryan’s thoughtfulness, her nose burned, and her eyes welled up.

Clara quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her vulnerability. Ryan, as if oblivious, glanced at his watch.”Go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

When Clara emerged, freshened up, Ryan pressed a warm cup of milk into her hands.”Let’s go.”

The rain had eased to a drizzle. They walked side-by-side, the water gliding off the umbrella and splashing in tiny bursts on the ground.

Ryan silently counted the droplets as they hit the pavement, then said softly, “I heard about the National Security Agency coming to Nova AI.”

Clara faltered, but didn’t reply.

“I know you wouldn’t do something like that.”

Ryan’s voice was steady.”I’ve already spoken with the higher-ups and added some details to the evidence you provided. You should be able to get your job back in a few days.”

He glanced at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.”The research team can’t function without you. Professor Lewis is waiting for you to take Blade to the next stage.”

Clara gripped the umbrella handle tighter, then stopped abruptly, looking up at Ryan with a sincere expression.”Thank you.”

Ryan’s words washed away a good deal of her pent-up frustration and exhaustion.

Ryan, noticing the light returning to her eyes, looked away.”It’s no trouble. We’re colleagues, no need to thank me.”

Meanwhile, a black Bentley pulled up in front of a luxury apartment complex downtown Natalie opened the car door, smiled at Ethan, and said, “Thanks for all the trouble today, Eth.”

“It’s part of my job. Get some rest.”

Ethan Carter sat in the back seat, watching Natalie Parker until she disappeared into the elevator, then signaled the driver to pull away.

“Don’t be like that.”

Jackson Taylor turned from the passenger seat to look at him.”It’s still early. Let’s get a few more people together and grab a drink.”

“No, I have things to do.”

Ethan’s rejection was firm, and Jackson clicked his tongue.”Workaholic, so boring. I don’t know what Clara Bennett ever saw in you, sticking with you for so many years.”

Ethan frowned at the mention of Clara.”That’s my business, not yours,

He paused, then asked, “Any news on the person I asked you to find?”

“Of course.”

Jackson seemed to remember something, letting out a snort.”That kid ran off to Border Town. I’ve already sent people to pick him in front of you in a few days.”

He’ll be

Knowing that Clara hadn’t been the one to administer the drug, Jackson had somewhat changed his opinion of her. Remembering how disheveled she had looked in the rain earlier, he changed the subject.

2365

< Chapter 53

“Honestly, Clara is pretty pathetic. If you have no feelings for her, you should let her go and divorce her.”

Ethan frowned.”I told you it’s none of your business. Why are you bringing her up again?”

“Just saw her, mentioning it in passing.”

Jackson said casually, “Why do you get so upset when I mention her?”

Ethan’s breath hitched.”Where did you see her? Did she see us leaving the restaurant together?”

“Right outside the restaurant. She was soaked to the bone, standing on the sidewalk, looking pretty miserable.”

Jackson thought back for a moment.”She definitely saw us. We made eye contact.”

“Turn around. Go back to the restaurant.”

Ethan’s voice was a few shades darker as he gave the order to the driver.

The Bentley sped through the rain-streaked streets, but when they arrived back at the restaurant, Clara was nowhere to be found.

“She must have walked off in the rain. Tsk, tsk, tsk, in this downpour…”

Jackson was still muttering when Ethan cut him off with a cold voice.”Get out.”

Jackson was stunned.”It’s still raining. You want me to get out here…?”

He glanced back and saw the icy look in Ethan’s eyes. He smacked his lips shut and told the driver to pull over near a club.

“Damn mouth, always gotta run your trap.”

Mera

Back at her apartment, Clara first took a hot bath, then made herself a bowl of hot noodle soup. She had just picked up her chopsticks when the doorbell rang.

She went to the entryway and saw Ethan’s face on the monitor, her brows furrowing instantly.

Clara didn’t want to open the door. She tiptoed back to the dining table, sat down, and continued eating her noodles, figuring Ethan would eventually leave once he realized no one was home.

But the doorbell rang persistently for nearly ten minutes, one ring after another.

Unable to bear it any longer, and worried about disturbing her neighbors, Clara had no choice but to open the door.”What is it?”

Ethan stood in the doorway, his gaze falling on Clara, and he paused.

She was wearing light-colored loungewear, her hair still damp, clinging to her neck, revealing her delicate collarbones. His

Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, his eyes darkening instantly.

Clara noticed his gaze and felt a wave of discomfort. She turned and went back to the bedroom to grab a jacket, draping it over herself before returning, her tone even colder.”What do you really want?”

“Today’s dinner with Natalie and Jackson was to discuss work.”

Ethan explained, “It was raining so hard when we came out that I didn’t see you.”;

“Jackson said you saw me. Why didn’t you call out to me?”

Clara gave a self-deprecating laugh.

What would have happened if he had called out to her? Would he have left Natalie and come to pick her up with an umbrella?

She didn’t even bother to look up.”Didn’t want to interrupt whatever you had going on.”

Ethan chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness in his laughter.”Are you jealous?”

“Nope.”

Clara looked away.”If there’s nothing else, you can leave.”

Seeing her guarded expression, Ethan sighed inwardly and took a step closer. “Where have you been the last few days? I couldn’t get through to you on the phone.”

Clara turned to look at him, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She’d been taken in for questioning by the National Security Agency, and they hadn’t even notified Ethan, her husband in name only?

“Are you genuinely in the dark, or are you just pretending?”

Ethan frowned, looking genuinely confused.”What am I supposed to know?”

Meanwhile, at the Carter Estate.

James Carter hung up the phone and exhaled slowly.”Clara’s fine. She’s been released. They said there wasn’t enough evidence.”

12:52

23.6%

< Chapter 53

Menu

Margaret Carter sat nearby, her voice laced with resentment towards Clara.”Dad, look at Clara. She’s caused such a mess, almost dragging the entire Carter family into an investigation.”

“It’s a good thing you kept it from Eth. Otherwise, who knows how many things he’d delay because of her!”

“It’s not her fault.”

James Carter cut her off.”She was clearly set up. Those so-called pieces of evidence, while genuine, aren’t enough to convict her.”

“The question is, was the person who reported her targeting her, or the Carter family?”

He turned to the butler and instructed, “Investigate. Find out who’s behind this and tell me immediately.”

Whoever’s behind this, daring to target the Carter family, better be ready to face our wrath.

The butler bowed respectfully and turned to leave.

Margaret wanted to say more, but James waved her off.”Alright, enough. Clara hasn’t had it easy these past few years.”

< Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Watching Ethan leave, completely clueless, Clara’s eyes glinted with irony as she recalled the scene she’d witnessed in the rain. Even if he rushed over to explain after realizing she’d seen him with Natalie, it didn’t mean anything.

She’d been out of contact for three days, and he hadn’t bothered to wonder where she was or consider what might have happened to her.

Menu

Now that she had her mother’s necklace back, Clara had no desire to continue this charade with him. She pulled out her phone, found Attorney Brown’s number, and dialed.

“Attorney Brown, this is Clara Bennett.”

Her voice was steadier than it had been with Ethan.”I paused the divorce proceedings due to some issues, but I’d like you to proceed with the filing as soon as possible.”

Attorney Brown didn’t inquire about the reason for the pause, simply responding professionally, “Understood, Ms. Bennett. We’ll need to reschedule the filing. I’ll notify you as soon as the date is confirmed.”

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, Clara went to the living room. Looking at the unfinished bowl of noodle soup on the coffee table, she suddenly lost her appetite.

The next morning, Clara woke up naturally for the first time in a while. Since she was suspended from work, she decided to clean up the house.

She had barely finished tidying up when her phone rang.

She answered, and Mia’s loud, frantic voice filled her ear:”Clara! Where have you been these past few days? I couldn’t reach you on your phone; I was about to call the cops!”

Clara felt a warmth in her heart.”I’m fine. I just had something come up recently, and I didn’t have my phone with me.”

“Something come up? What could possibly make you disappear for three days?”

Mia turned serious.”Clara, we promised we wouldn’t keep things from each other.”

Clara hesitated for a long moment, then finally told her everything that had happened over the past few days.

The other end of the line exploded.”What the hell does Mason Walker think he’s doing?!”

“Why does he keep messing with you? If you hadn’t given him twenty million dollars back then, would he be where he is today?!”

Mia regretted her outburst immediately, softening her tone.”Clara, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Clara lowered her gaze, not wanting to continue the conversation.”Haven’t you been wanting to buy some new clothes for the changing season?”

“I’m free these days. How about we go shopping together this afternoon?”

Half an hour later, at Horizon Plaza in the city center.

“Let’s go, let’s go, hurry inside.”

Mia looped her arm through Clara’s.”I saw a few trench coats I liked the other day, but I’m torn. I can’t decide which one to get. You can help me decide.”

Mia dragged Clara straight to the women’s clothing section on the third floor, heading into a boutique brand with great design.

Mia waved to the sales associate as if she were a regular.”Can you bring out that double-faced cashmere trench coat in oatmeal I looked at last time, and the black satin slip dress? Size medium for both.”

The sales associate smiled and nodded, turning to fetch the items from the Storage Room.

Clara glanced at the price tag and gasped. It looked like Mia had earned quite a bit from that system.

The sales associate quickly brought out the clothes Mia had requested.

“What do you think of these two?”

Mia held the clothes up against herself, posing.

“Nice.”

Mia had a great figure to begin with

“Those two pieces go well together.”

–

curvy in all the right places – making even Clara stare.

A soft voice suddenly came from behind them.”That cashmere trench coat is quite lovely. Excuse me, could you bring me a size medium as

19.53

24.0%