Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The argument between Mia and Sophia drew a crowd–right when Ethan and his friend Jackson Taylor walked in. Ethan shrugged off Jackson’s hand and strode forward, eyes sweeping over the scene before landing on Olivia..

“What’s going on?”

Olivia flashed a sweet, harmless smile.“Nothing really. Ms. Bennett must’ve misunderstood something. Sophia just got a little worked up.”

“Olivia, don’t be so soft,” Sophia said pointedly. “People will just keep walking all over you.”

She turned to Ethan.“Mr. Carter, you should defend Olivia. They’re spreading rumors that you’re already married–and that Olivia’s the mistress!”

She made sure to emphasize married, shooting Clara a triumphant look.

Let’s see you talk your way out of this now, bitch.

Ethan’s gaze drifted toward Clara. “Oh? And who exactly is Mrs. Carter?”

Mia almost blurted, Clara, obviously!-but Clara’s hand tightened around her wrist.

Clara

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gave the slightest shake of her head, and Mia froze. She remembered–the Carters had kept the marriage a secret. Clara’s uncle’s company still depended on them. Saying anything would only make things worse.

“Well? Cat got your tongue?”

Sophia sneered.“Go ahead, Clara. Call Olivia a homewrecker to his face. You think you can spread lies and not pay for it?”

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“She looks nice, but I guess she’s just jealous.”

“Exactly. Ethan and Olivia look perfect together.”

“Maybe she’s the real homewrecker.”

Color drained from Clara’s face.

The lobby manager rushed over, all smiles for Ethan and Olivia.

“Mr. Carter, Ms. Bennett–I’m so sorry for the disturbance. I’ll have these two escorted out immediately.”

“You blind?” Mia snapped.“They came here to start it. Why should we leave?”

The manager gave Ethan a nervous glance, then gestured to security.

“Please cooperate, ladies.”

Clara’s eyes locked on Ethan, searching for any trace of support.

Nothing. Just a cold, distant stare.

Her stomach dropped.

So that was it.

He was warning her–Don’t expose our marriage.

And Mia? She’d just embarrassed him in public.

“It’s fine,” Olivia said sweetly, looping her arm through his.“Let’s not ruin the night.”

Ethan didn’t even look back.“Let’s go.”

The two headed upstairs.

The manager exhaled in relief.“Please, Ms. Bennett,” he said softly.“Don’t make this hard. That’s Mr. Carter–you can’t afford to cross him.”

“Right.” Clara’s tone was flat.“Come on, Mia. Let’s go.”

Mia’s

eyes were red.“He parades his side chick around and kicks his wife out? What the hell?”

Her anger spilled out.“You took care of him for years, Clara. And now he treats you like trash? People think you trapped him, but he’s the one who was drugged that night! He forced himself on you! You only married him because you had no choice!”

“Mia, stop. Clara’s voice was tight.“It’s over.”

“Eth forced himself on you?”

Jackson’s mocking voice cut in.“Wow, Clara. Still playing the victim? You’re the one who drugged him. Everyone knows that.”

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He smirked. “He was the real victim. You used that pregnancy to trap him, made the Carters force him to marry you, and broke up him and his first love. Sent her overseas, too.”

“He finally found someone he loves. Why can’t you just back off and let him live in peace?”

Clara froze.

His first love? Olivia?

The child Ethan had secretly implanted in her… was Olivia’s?

Her stomach lurched. The room spun. She gripped the table to stay upright.

She had carried Olivia’s child.

After marrying Ethan, she’d cut off Mason completely. Dedicated herself to her family, her kid, her husband. She once dreamed of earning his love. Now it all felt like a cruel joke.

“You bastard!

Mia was shaking with e.“What kind of trash story are you spewing? I’ll rip that smug grin right off

rage. “Oh yeah?” Jackson’s eyes turned cold.“That drugged drink–you handed it to him yourself.”

your

face!”

Clara’s stomach knotted tighter. That night… she’d just done what her uncle told her–grabbed a random glass from a server and brought it over. How could she have known it was spiked?

“So just because she handed it to him, that means she drugged it?”

Mia barked out a laugh.“That was a Carter family banquet. For all we know, Ethan’s the one who tried to drug her!”

“Watch your mouth, woman!”

Jackson’s face darkened.

Clara stepped in front of Mia.“Just calling out the double standard, Jackson. Can’t take what you dish out?”

She grabbed Mia’s arm.“Come on. He’s not worth it.”

They walked out without looking back.

Jackson’s jaw was tight, fury simmering under his skin.

She’d never dared talk to him like that before.

By the time he stormed upstairs, he was still seething.

“What’s your deal?” Ethan asked.

“It’s Clara,” Jackson growled, throwing back another drink before spilling everything.

Sophia, eavesdropping, chimed in.“Don’t bother getting mad, Jackson. Clara’s always been shameless.”

“She probably hooked up with Mr. Walker from Walker Venture Partners to score that investment and force Professor Lewis to take her back.”

“Mason?” Ethan’s brows lifted.

“Uh–huh,” Sophia said.“But it won’t matter. Walker didn’t just invest in her project–he invested in Olivia’s too.”

Ethan’s eyes darkened. He traced the rim of his glass, lost in thought.

By the time they wrapped up, the moon was high.

Olivia clung to Ethan’s arm as the crowd dispersed.

“Eth, can you take me home?”

“I’ve got something to do,” he said, opening the door for her.“David will drive you.”

He watched her car pull away, then climbed into his own.

“Home,” he told the driver.

The front door clicked open into darkness.

The house was silent, the air cold and heavy.

Only the faint glow from the lawn lights spilled through the windows, throwing shadows across the floor.

Ethan’s brow furrowed.

She still hadn’t come home?