Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

The car door flew

open, tall figure jumped out, wading through the water to Clara, reaching out and pulling her into his arms.

and a

Clara opened her eyes, about to say thank you, but froze when she recognized the man’s face.

Rain streamed down Ethan’s hair, dripping into his collar, his face etched with anxiety as his gaze swept over Clara. After confirming she was unharmed, he sighed in relief, “You’re okay. I’m here.”

Clara abruptly pulled away from him, her eyes wide with disbelief.”What are you doing here?”

Ethan took Lila from her arms, supporting Clara with his other hand, shouting against the torrential rain, “Your car has a GPS tracker and an emergency brake notification system.”

“I got an alert that your car stalled, and I figured you might be in trouble, so I tracked you down using the GPS.”

Anxious that Clara might think he was monitoring her, he quickly explained, “I have those installed in all the family cars for safety.”

It was just that he knew Clara had been driving this car lately, so he’d been paying a little extra attention.

Ethan adjusted Lila in his arms, wanting to take Clara’s hand.”Let’s get in the car, no matter what.” Clara shook off his hand, wiping the cold rain from her forehead, and said coldly, “I can walk myself.” Clara had initially wanted to take Lila from him, but she caught a glimpse of Ethan’s tall figure shielding Lila. Lila nestled obediently in Ethan’s arms, her little hands clutching his collar, her small face still showing a hint of fear. Perhaps sensing the little girl’s tension, Ethan lifted her a bit higher, holding her tightly.”It’s okay.”

Clara forced a reassuring smile at Lila.”It’s okay, don’t be scared, just hold on tight…”

022032 2 5 8 8 3 2 8 7±8 ± 282

“…hold on tight to this uncle.”

Her issues with Ethan were between her and Ethan.

There was no need, nor any reason, to gamble with Lila Walker’s safety just to prove a point.

The rain was coming down in sheets, like the sky was about to burst open.

Clara slipped, nearly falling, and Ethan turned, reaching out to grab her, but she had already caught herself, pushing up from the ground.

Her hand had been cut by something sharp in the rain-a shard of glass, maybe-and blood was already trickling down her wrist, making her

wince.

Give me your hand,” Ethan yelled over the downpour.”Let me help you.”

Without even looking at him, Clara gritted her teeth, fighting the pain, and cut him off coldly.”Just hold onto Lila. If anything happens to her,

I’ll never forgive you!”

Ethan saw the resolve in her eyes, and he knew better than to push it. He knew how stubborn Clara could be. There was nothing he could do.

He tightened his grip on Lila, carefully picking his way towards the car, glancing back at Clara every few steps.

Clara deliberately avoided his gaze, only catching glimpses of him in her peripheral vision.

Watching Ethan holding Lila, Clara was flooded with mixed emotions.

She had always assumed that Ethan disliked Ryan Walker so much that he couldn’t possibly feel any affection for Lila. She never thought he’d actually protect her.

Countless times in the past, Clara had imagined Ethan shielding her from trouble.

But in their seven years of marriage, he never had. Now, as they were on the verge of divorce, he finally did.

It was laughable, pathetic, and lamentable all at once.

Clara wiped the rain from her face and scoffed.

The three of them trudged to the car, where David rushed forward with an umbrella and opened the door.

Ethan carefully placed Lila in the car, then gently helped Clara inside.

Once they were all in, David handed them towels to dry off.

Ethan glanced at the SUV sitting in the flooded street and said to David, “Take Clara home first. Arrange for someone to tow her car later.”

He turned to Clara.”Do you need anything from the car? I can have someone buy it and bring it to you.”

Clara looked away.”I don’t need anything.

And, I’m not your wife anymore. I’m…”

11:32

33.95

<Chapter 76

Clara wanted to define her relationship with Ethan, but “wife” didn’t fit.

However, they hadn’t finalized the divorce, so “ex-wife” wasn’t quite right either.

But with things as strained as they were, what difference was there between their situation and a divorce?

But how was she supposed to define their relationship now?

Finally, Clara gave a helpless smile, looked at Ethan, her eyes sincere, yet holding a sorrow and resignation that others couldn’t

understand “Ethan, you really don’t need to do this.”

The atmosphere in the car instantly dropped several degrees. David, understanding the situation, lowered his head and pretended to be on his phone.

Ethan was taken aback. There were things he couldn’t say in front of David. He glanced at Lila, who was soaked, and turned up the air conditioning.

“Go buy some dry clothes for children, and send them to Ms….”

He stopped abruptly, remembering what Clara had just said.

Forcing down the bitterness in his heart, Ethan simply said, “Send them to…

“Send them to… send them to Ms. Bennett’s place.”

David hesitated, then whispered, “Boss, you have a meeting with Mr. Taylor from Taylor Enterprises later…”

“Cancel it.” Ethan looked out the window, not caring at all.”He won’t come out in this rain.”

David opened his mouth.

He wanted to say that Alexander was already waiting at the club, but seeing the look on Ethan’s face, he swallowed the words and sent a message to Alexander’s assistant instead.

Clara Bennett’s apartment wasn’t far, barely a fifteen-minute drive. Soon, the black SUV pulled up outside her building.

Outside, the rain was torrential, and the wind whipped everything around, creating a hazard of falling debris.

Chicago was experiencing a once-in-a-century extreme weather event, with dozens of car accidents reported across the city.

The city had issued a red alert for the extreme rainfall, urging everyone to stay home and avoid being outdoors if possible.

Given the circumstances, Clara couldn’t justify leaving David Wilson and Ethan Carter out in the storm. Besides, with David present, Ethan was less likely to pull anything.

“Alright, come on up. You can leave when the rain lets up.”

The four of them went upstairs to her apartment. Clara first took Lila Walker to shower, found her one of her T-shirts to change into, and had her go to the study to do her homework. She’d call her when dinner was ready.

When she got to the living room, Ethan was standing by the sofa, soaked to the bone. Clara grabbed toiletries from the master bathroom and took them to the guest bathroom.

“Go take a shower, you don’t want to catch a cold.”

A flicker of amusement crossed Ethan’s eyes. He nodded.”Okay.”

David was sharp; once Ethan finished his shower, he also made the excuse to rinse off. He then holed up in the bathroom, claiming he wasn’t done, leaving his boss and Clara alone.

Fresh from his shower, Ethan stood in the dining room, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched Clara’s busy figure in the kitchen.

Back when Clara still lived in the villa, this was a scene he’d always encounter whenever he returned.

No matter how late he got home, a lamp would always be left on for him in the living room, and there would always be hot food waiting on the dining table.

But ever since Clara moved out, the house had grown increasingly desolate.

It had been a long time since he’d felt this sense of home.

He wondered when Clara would be willing to move back in.

Dinner was soon ready. Clara sat down at the table with Lila, placing a rib on the girl’s plate. Catching sight of Ethan, who was acting hesitant, she said, “Come, let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

Ethan sat down, picked up a Sweet & Sour Rib, and popped it into his mouth. The familiar taste spread through his mouth, almost bringing tears to his eyes. He couldn’t remember how long it had been since he last tasted Clara’s cooking.

He’d never appreciated these things before, taking them for granted. But now, these small gestures had become a past he desperately longed for.

=>11:32

33.8%

Perhaps to hide his emotions, he lowered his head and took a bite of rice. When he looked up, he saw Clara and Lila sitting across from him heads bowed as they ate.

An indescribable sense of happiness welled up inside him, and he suddenly wished time could stop right there..

That feeling of happiness lingered in his heart, refusing to fade.

Which is why, when Clara came out of the bedroom after lulling Lila to sleep, she found Ethan leaning against the sink.

The sleeves of his expensive custom-made loungewear were rolled up to his forearms, revealing the smooth lines of his muscles.

He was wearing Clara’s bright yellow ducky apron, a sponge in his right hand, meticulously scrubbing a bone china bowl, his movements so slow it was as if he were performing some delicate task.

Water droplets trickled down the side of the bowl into the sink, making soft, subtle sounds that only highlighted his awkwardness.

Clara paused, stunned. In her memory, Ethan never lifted a finger around the house. Yet here he was, doing dishes.

“You don’t have to do that.”

Her voice was soft as she approached the sink. She saw the foamy dishes haphazardly placed on the drying rack, some still clinging to dried rice. She sighed.

She knew it. There was no way Ethan Carter could actually wash dishes.

“Let me take over.”

She nudged Ethan aside, turned on the faucet, and picked up a bowl. The sponge danced in her hand, and she cleaned the bowl in a matter of

seconds.

Ethan stood beside her, watching her movements, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.”First time. I don’t really have any experience.”

He paused, adding, “But I’ll do it more often.”

This wasn’t just idle talk. Ethan genuinely meant it. After all these years of marriage, today was the first time he truly felt what married life could be.

Clara turned off the water and placed the clean bowl in the drying rack before turning to face Ethan.

“Ethan, I’m so grateful that you came to save Lila and me today.”

“If

you

hadn’t shown up when you did, I don’t know what would have happened to us.

Ethan was about to say, “It’s the least I could do,” when she continued, “But you don’t have to do things like this. You never have before, and you’ don’t need to start now.”

“I’ve been doing all this alone for so many years, after all.”

“Since we’ve reached this point, there’s no need for either of us to change.”

“No, you won’t.”

Hearing this, a flicker of panic shot through Ethan’s heart, as if there was no future for them together.

“Clara, I know I wasn’t good enough before. I misunderstood you, and I neglected you, neglected this family.”

“But I’ll change from now on. I’ll bring Luke home, and the three of us can be like we were tonight.” “Clara, trust me. I’ll make it happen.”

Listening to his

ger promises, Clara looked at the sincerity in his eyes, which didn’t seem fake. After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly asked, “Ethan, are you hiding something from me?”

Ethan’s pupils constricted sharply, a trace of panic flashing in his eyes. He instinctively held his breath, his mind racing.

Does Clara know about the surrogacy?

No, impossible.

If Clara really knew, with her personality, she would never have listened to Grandpa’s advice and agreed to postpone the divorce. He forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, struggling to maintain his composure.”No, I’m not.”

Clara slowly closed her eyes. Even now, Ethan was still unwilling to tell her the truth?

If she didn’t want to stir up trouble, she really wanted to slap him across the face.

Seeing her eyes closed and her brow furrowed, Ethan tentatively asked, “Are you upset about Natalie Parker?”

“Natalie and I have known each other for years. She saved my life once, and I’m only helping her to repay that debt.”

“I didn’t tell you because I thought she’d be going back to the States eventually, and it wouldn’t affect our life.”

11:32

33.8%

Hearing this, Clara could no longer contain her anger. She opened her eyes and looked directly at Ethan,

“Ethan, I don’t care what your relationship with Natalie Parker is.”

than I don’t

“But you can’t do everything for her!”

Ethan assumed she knew about him signing the guarantee for Natalie at the National Security Agency. He quickly explained, “No, the reason I did that was because I knew…”

But before he could finish, Clara interrupted, “Natalie Parker is a part of your past.”

“But you should also know that Mason Walker is a part of mine.”

Ethan knew that, of course.

It was something that had always bothered him, so much so that he secretly had a paternity test done after Lucas was born.

“Ever since I married you, I’ve cut off all contact with him.”

“I’ve never contacted him first, nor have I ever asked him for anything, or helped him with anything.”

The thought of Ethan going as far as having her be a surrogate for Natalie Parker made Clara’s eyes well up, but she stubbornly fought back the

tears.

She was dying to tell Ethan that she knew the whole truth.

But she couldn’t. She couldn’t afford to be sentimental and let Ethan know she had proof he’d used her as a surrogate. That would only hurt her in the upcoming divorce proceedings.

“I really thought, once upon a time, that we could have a good life together. I thought if I was good enough, and understanding enough, you’d eventually see me.”

“But what did you do?”

“Before, you used work as an excuse to parade Olivia around, and when people said she was your girlfriend, you never denied it!”

“Now, because of Natalie Parker, you’re willing to bet the Carter Group’s reputation to force Apex to work with Nova AI, just to humiliate

me!”

“After you’ve done all these things, you tell me you want to have a good life together? How can you expect me to believe you?”

Ethan looked at Clara’s expression, his heart feeling like it was being pierced by a million needles.”Clara, baby, I was wrong. I was an idiot back

then.”

“But I love you. Believe me, you’re the one I love now!”

Clara looked at him and suddenly smiled, a smile filled with sorrow.

“Love me?”

She repeated the words, as if she’d heard the biggest joke in the world.

“Then where is your love?”

She reached out, gently touching her chest.”I can’t feel it, I can’t experience it, I can’t touch it. All these years, all you’ve given me is pain.” She took a step back, widening the distance between them, her head lowered.”Just go.”

Ethan’s heart clenched, the pain almost stealing his breath.

“Clara, please, let me explain. I…”

“Just leave!”

Clara’s voice rose sharply, filled with years of suppressed breakdown and anger.”I don’t want to see you anymore! Seeing you just reminds me of all the things you used to do to me!”

Her tears finally spilled, streaming down her cheeks, hitting the floor, leaving small, damp spots.

Ethan’s words caught in his throat, not a single syllable able to escape.

He wanted to step forward and hold Clara, to wipe away her tears, but his feet felt as heavy as lead.

Only today did it finally hit him just how awful he’d been during their marriage.

He resented Clara’s past with Mason Walker, but Clara resented him just as much.

Yet, he continued to parade Olivia around, flaunting their relationship as if to trample on her dignity and self-respect.

He even went as far as to conceal the surrogacy from Clara to repay Natalie for saving his life.

He knew how much pain she endured from the ovulation shots, knew how desperately she wanted another child.

11:32

Gardenscapes

33.8%

Yet, he still went through with it.

And just recently, he embarrassed her again for Natalie’s sake.

Clara was right. He had only ever brought her pain. What right did he have to ask her to stay with him?

In that instant, a wave of darkness washed over him. It seemed there was no future for him and Clara.

“Don’t cry. I’m leaving.”

He turned and walked to the door, pausing to glance back.

Clara remained by the kitchen entrance, her back to him, shoulders trembling slightly.

His heart clenched again, but he gritted his teeth, opened the door, and stepped out.

The door clicked shut, severing their worlds.

Hearing the door close, Clara wiped the tears from her face, her eyes clear and resolute.

Ethan Carter, there is no future for us. There never will be!

Outside the door, Ethan leaned against the frame, lit a cigarette, his mind replaying Clara’s words.

“Where is your love, Ethan?”

“I can’t feel it, Ethan. I just can’t.”

He pulled out his phone and called David. “Put together the documents for the Apex collaboration. You’ll handle all future communication with Natalie Parker. No need to loop me in.”