Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 68

< Chapter 68

Chapter 68

The parking lot below Nova AI.

Stepping out of the elevator, Clara spotted the black Bentley lurking quietly in the shadows.

The back door swung open, and Ethan’s long fingers gripped the edge as he looked up at her.

“Get in.”

His voice was deep, deliberately softened.

As soon as Clara was inside, a delicate velvet box, laced with the scent of cedar, was presented to her.

Inside lay a slender necklace, the pendant a tiny starburst, catching the faint light.

“A gift.”

Ethan watched her reaction, a hint of appeasement in his eyes.”You didn’t like the other one. What about this?”

Clara glanced at it, then fixed her gaze on Ethan’s face, concise and direct.”Did you find out who spiked me seven years ago?”

“Yes.”

Ethan’s smile faded slightly. He instructed the driver to start the car.”I’ll tell you after dinner.”

The restaurant was on a rooftop terrace in the suburbs.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city glittered. White roses adorned the table, and the candlelight flickered, softening Ethan’s profile.

“Happy birthday.”

Just as the waiter brought the aperitifs, the deep, resonant notes of a cello drifted from a corner of the terrace.

Clara paused, her hand gripping the wine glass a little tighter. She looked up toward the source of the music, spotting a musician in formal attire. The melodious tune washed over her as the bow glided across the strings.

Turning her gaze to Ethan, a flicker of mockery danced in her eyes.

In seven years

of marriage, Ethan had never once celebrated her birthday. It wasn’t that he didn’t know; he simply didn’t care.

Now, with their divorce looming, what was this charade all about?

“I hired the symphony’s principal cellist, especially. I hope you like it.”

Ethan set down his wine glass, his voice softer than the cello’s melody.”If it’s too loud, I can have him stop.”

Clara shook her head.”No, it’s fine.”

It was, indeed, fine. She could see the effort Ethan had put into it.

But Clara knew in her heart that whatever his reasons were, they wouldn’t stir any emotions within her.

The waiter began serving the dishes one by one, and the irony deepened in Clara’s eyes.

“Try this.”

Ethan slid a piece of cut cod toward her, a dab of sauce clinging to the silver fork, his movements tinged with an awkward eagerness to please.

Clara pushed the fish away.”Ethan, I don’t eat seafood.”

Just like that random shrimp he’d put in her bowl back at the Old Estate.

Seven years of marriage, and Ethan knew next to nothing about her preferences, certainly less than she knew about him.

“What do you like to eat, then?”

“I’ll have them make something else for you.”

Clara shook her head.”No need.”

She picked at the food she could stomach.

The cello music gradually faded, and the terrace returned to silence, with only the soft crackle of the candle flames.

Clara took a napkin and wiped her mouth.”Now that dinner’s over, can you tell me who spiked the drink that night?”

Ethan’s eyes flickered with a hint of resignation, but he didn’t answer directly.”Are you finished eating?”

“I’ll take you somewhere. When we get there, I’ll tell you.”

Clara looked at him coldly, saying nothing, calculating the feasibility of leaving now.

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As if sensing her thoughm. Ethan’s wonce held a hint of pleading “Really, I will”

Ethan didn’t let the der follow, and drove himself towards the observatory on the other side of the mountain

The observatory must have been cleared because there wasn’t a single tourist, only the staff.

The huge dome screen it up and a sky full of san spread out in the darkness, breathtaking in their brilliance.

Cura supped in her cracks beneath the screen. She’d seen this place on Instagram and always wanted to visit She’d even mentioned it to Ethan before but he’d only ghen a noncomatinal response

She’d assumed he’d forgonen, but apparently, he remembered

But what did in mamer?

She’d long lost interest in this place, just like she’d lost interest in their broken marriage.

“Can you tell me now?

All Chara wanted to know was who had administered the drug

Ethan was sea for a long moment, then walked to her side. You once said you wanted to see the Orion Nebula.”

He raised his hand and pressed a button on the remote. The star map on the screen slowly shifted, eventually focusing on a radiant, red nebula. The weacher’s good tonight. You can see it clearly.”

Clara glanced at the screen, then scrutinized her surroundings Beneath the dome were white bellflower arrangements, her favorite. Soft piano music played from the speakers in the corner, and even the cushions in the lounge area were the linen material they used to have at home Too bad chose were things Ethan liked not her.

“Ethan you don’t have to do this

There was a complexity to her tone. “No matter how carefully you arrange things, it only exposes how little you know me, doesn’t it?” Ethan watched the distant look in her eyes and a wave of panic washed over him

Clara was right. Over the years, he’d paid far too little attention to her-so little that he didn’t even know her preferences, leading hím to make mirates a every w

“Clara, I know I messed up terribly in the past, but can you give me some time to get to know you, to give me a chance to be there for you in the

The lady ding was they weren’t completely estranged yes. There was still a chance to salvage things.

Clara booked at him sighed almost imperceptibly, and turned to leave.

No one was obliged to stand still and wait for anyone.

She had given him seven years, and he had been blind to it

Now she was tired and didn’t want to waste any more time on him, but he was turning back

Seeing her about to leave, Ethan panicked slightly and grabbed her arm. “I’ll tell you who administered the drug. Just stay with me, okay?”

Clara tilted her head, looked at him for a long moment, and then said softly, “Okay.”

Trading one night to find out who pushed her into the abyss was a worthwhile exchange.

Seeing her agree, a smile flickered across Ethan’s face, and he licked his slightly dry lips. “It was probably Robert Anderson.”

Recently, Jackson found the person who administered the drug back then, but he died in a car accident on his way to Chicago.”

Clara’s hear wank. An accidera?

Don’t we like it’

Ethan’s gaze hardened “Jackson investigated and found too many ‘accidents’ along the way, as if someone had deliberately orchestrated them.” I suspect it was Roben Anderson.”

He looked at Clara, laying out his suspicions one by one.

“Roben Anderson?

Clara’s pupil constricted

Brion, when Roben had shored Anderson Industries to curry favor with Ethan, she’d thought he’d simply been blinded by power over the year. She never imagined he’d been plotting to exploit her to the fullest extent even before that.

A madden image flashed through her mind: Emma Anderson, arm-in-arm with Mason Walker, radiating happiness. Clara felt as if she’d been plunged into an icy abyss.

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No, maybe it wasn’t just about exploitation….

He’d drugged Ethan, forcing her to marry him and cutting off her contact with Mason. He’d hidden the fact that she’d given Mason twenty million dollars, making Mason resent her.

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Knowing she couldn’t bear to see Anderson Industries decline under Robert’s leadership, he relied on the Carter family’s support to expand it.

At the same time, he facilitated the relationship between Emma and Mason, not only allowing Emma to get what she wanted but also securing a connection with the Walker family.

Killing two birds with one stone-quite the calculation!

So, Robert’s shorting of Anderson Industries wasn’t just to please Ethan. It was premeditated, and that time was merely an opportunity!

Clara closed her eyes slowly, a dizzy spell washing over her, and she swayed unsteadily.

Ethan reached out to steady her, his eyes filled with a tenderness he couldn’t hide.”I didn’t want to tell you before because I was afraid it would ruin your mood tonight.”

He hadn’t expected her to be so fixated on it.

Ethan felt a pang of regret, wondering if using this as a reason to see her had been a mistake.

Clara regained her balance and took a step back, trying to put some distance between them, but he held onto her hand and guided her forward.

“Don’t overthink it. I promise I’ll get to the bottom of this. I won’t let you suffer for nothing.”

A row of telescopes lined the terrace. Ethan adjusted one and motioned for Clara to look through it.

“You can see Saturn’s rings.”

He stood behind her, his voice a warm breath near her ear, his arm gently protecting her side, preventing her from bumping into the equipment.

Clara peered into the eyepiece, the outline of Saturn’s rings sharply defined in her vision, a breathtaking sight that stole her breath. Ethan watched her eyes widen slightly, and a faint, involuntary smile touched his lips

It was the first time tonight she’d looked so alive, so genuinely vibrant, like the playful, innocent girl she was when they first got married.

If only he had understood his own feelings sooner, would he have been able to protect that spark in her?

He couldn’t help but feel a surge of annoyance as he recalled his meeting with Victor Bennett earlier that afternoon to discuss the collaboration between their families, Victor had subtly distanced himself from Clara, as if he wanted nothing to do with her.

If the Bennett family didn’t want to acknowledge Clara, didn’t want to protect her, then he would.

As long as he was around, he would never let anyone hurt her again!

Noticing Clara repeatedly licking her lips, Ethan guessed she might be thirsty.

“I’ll go get you something to drink.”

He ruffled her hair affectionately and turned to head down to the convenience store.

As he passed the lounge area, he made a point of picking up the linen cushion and dusting it off, thinking it would make Clara more comfortable when she sat down later. His steps felt lighter.

Clara watched his retreating figure, her expression unreadable.

Everything Ethan had done tonight reeked of careful, almost timid attempts to please her, and she couldn’t deny the sincerity he was showing

her in that moment.

Yet, she couldn’t forget everything he had done to her in the past-those memories lingered.

Moreover, Natalie Parker was still in the picture, a constant reminder that Ethan Carter might turn on her again for Natalie’s sake.

Oh well.

She would file for divorce again after Grandpa passed away anyway. In the meantime, she would let him do as he pleased, as long as he didn’t

interfere too much with her life.

Her phone rang. Clara Bennett glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, and then answered. Victor Bennett’s voice came through the line.”Clara, have you thought about what we discussed before?” Clara frowned, knowing he was referring to her clearing Olivia Bennett’s name with Ethan Carter. “There’s nothing to consider. I have no obligation to clear Olivia’s name. Do whatever you want.” Staring at the phone after the call ended, Victor Bennett gritted his teeth.”Clara, if you refuse to cooperate nicely, don’t blame me for what

comes next.”

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He recalled his meeting with Ethan Carter that afternoon to discuss their collaboration. Ethan’s indifferent attitude when Clara was mentioned suggested he didn’t really care about the Bennett family’s relationship with her.

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A smirk played on his lips as he looked at Clara’s medical records in his hand. He took a photo of the page detailing her abortion and sent it out. Ethan, holding his warm drink, felt his phone buzz with a notification. He pulled it out and tapped the screen.

His movements froze instantly as he saw the message from Victor Bennett. His breath hitched in his throat.

He clicked on the message without thinking. The medical file popped up on the screen, stark and clear. The diagnosis of “voluntary termination of pregnancy,” the date of the procedure, the signature confirmation-every detail stabbed at his eyes.

He stood rooted to the spot, his fingers clenching so tightly around his phone that his knuckles turned white.

The warmth he’d felt just moments ago, the hopeful plans he’d been making, the tenderness in his eyes-all of it was instantly erased, replaced by an overwhelming wave of confusion, shock, and fury.

He looked toward Clara, who was standing near the telescope. Her profile was turned to him, a faint smile playing on her lips.

But all Ethan could think was that this whole thing was a goddamn joke.

He’d canceled all his appointments, meticulously planned this evening, humbled himself to try and win her over, and promised to protect her.

He’d thought he could salvage their crumbling marriage, that she might still care about him, even just a little.

Turns out, he’d been the only one who gave a damn all along.

Not only had she terminated the pregnancy, but she’d also kept it from him, watching him play this ridiculous charade in front of her like some kind of fool.

The phone screen remained lit, the words on the medical record glaring in the darkness.

Ethan stood in the shadows, gazing at the figure not far away who both captivated and chilled him to the bone, the last embers of warmth in his eyes extinguished completely.

Clara’s gaze was fixed on the telescope, just as tiny streaks of light pierced the black sky, leaving faint trails of light, so dazzling that a gleam appeared in her eyes.

It was a meteor shower. She turned instinctively, wanting to call Ethan to watch with her. Just as she was about to speak, she saw him standing in the shadows, his expression unreadable.

“What’s wrong?”

Clara asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Ethan looked up at her. She had a faint smile playing on her lips, so pure that it caused a sudden ache in his chest, as if a heavy weight was pressing down on him.

He wanted to ask her why she had hidden the abortion from him. Was their marriage, in her eyes, a mistake from the very beginning?

The accusatory words were already on the tip of his tongue, but his phone suddenly rang insistently. Ethan took a deep breath, suppressing the roiling emotions, and pressed the answer button.

Margaret Carter’s panicked voice came through the phone.”Eth, where are you? Grandpa suddenly couldn’t breathe after a phone call and has been rushed to the hospital. You need to get here right away!”

“I understand. I’m on my way.”

Hanging up, Ethan looked at Clara, his eyes devoid of any warmth.”Grandpa had an incident. I need to go to the hospital.”

A flicker of panic crossed Clara’s eyes. Could Victor have told Grandpa about her abortion?

“I’ll come with you.”

“No need.”

Ethan shook his head.

He was too agitated, and Clara’s presence would only cloud his judgment.

“I’ll have the driver take you home.”

Margaret sat on a chair outside the emergency room, her eyes red and swollen. Seeing Ethan, she quickly stood up and grabbed his arm.

“Eth, Grandpa’s still inside. The doctor said his condition isn’t good.”

Ethan patted his mother’s hand.”Mom, don’t worry. I’m here.”

“Do you know who made that call?”

Margaret thought for a moment. It must have been Grandpa’s assistant.”

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“Grandpa received a call earlier, and whatever they said on the other end made him furious.”

“Later, Grandpa asked his assistant to investigate something. When they called back, Grandpa got even angrier and couldn’t breathe.” Ethan’s mind immediately jumped to the conclusion that Victor Bennett had likely told his grandfather not only about Clara’s abortion but also about his own involvement.

His grandfather must have been overwhelmed by the confirmation that Clara had terminated the pregnancy.

Frustrated, Ethan comforted Margaret before turning away to find a place to smoke and clear his head. He needed to figure out how to shield Clara from his grandfather’s wrath once he woke up.

As he reached the entrance to the stairwell, he spotted a familiar figure.

Natalie was standing there, holding a bag of medication, her face etched with concern as she looked at him.

Ethan’s gaze fell on Natalie, his brow furrowed slightly.

“Sick?”

His voice was flat, devoid of any warmth. The emotional turmoil of learning about Clara’s abortion and his grandfather’s subsequent collapse still weighed heavily on him.

Natalie quickly stepped forward, her voice soft and gentle.”Yeah, my stomach’s been acting up. I came to the ER, and after picking up my prescription, I heard the nurse say that James was admitted, so I wanted to check on you.”

She looked up at Ethan, her eyes filled with a hopeful expectation, longing to see the worry that used to be so familiar in his expression. But Ethan had no patience for her at the moment.”If you’re not feeling well, you should go home and rest.”

“I’m here for Grandpa, and so are the medical staff. You don’t need to worry.”

Before they could exchange more than a few words, a nurse rushed over, looking grave, and handed over a critical condition notice.”Are there any family members here?”

“The patient’s body can’t hold on for much longer. At most three days. If you have anything to say to him, you should do it as soon as possible.” Hearing this, Margaret’s eyes instantly turned red, and she tugged at Ethan’s sleeve, bursting into tears.”What do we do? What are we going to do!”

Ethan stared blankly at the critical condition notice, his mind flooded with countless thoughts.

Images flashed through his mind of Grandpa playing with him as a child, nurturing him as he grew, and supporting him step by step to the position he held today.

But even more than that…

Ethan knew better than anyone that the peaceful, non-divorced state he was in with Clara was something Grandpa had begged Clara for with his life.

If Grandpa were to die, what would happen to him and Clara…?

Thinking of this, Ethan’s brow furrowed fiercely!