Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Ryan Walker was running late to Nova AI because he had to take Lila to school. He frowned when he saw Margaret Carter leaving in a car, and headed towards the research lab.

Arriving at the research department and not seeing Clara in the lobby, his heart skipped a beat. He quickened his pace, only to find Olivia’s former lab door open.

Clara was sitting at the desk, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

Hearing a noise, she looked up, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and quickly shushed him. With her other hand, she gently tapped a

small black box on the desk.

Ryan Walker breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Clara Bennett had also sensed something was amiss.

He deliberately amplified his footsteps, the sound of his leather shoes echoing on the floor as he walked over to her, pulled out a chair,

and sat down.

The crisp scent of cedar from him enveloped her. Clara Bennett’s nose twitched slightly, and when she looked up, she met his deep gaze, causing her earlobes to tingle.

“The core parameters for Blade completed their final calibration yesterday.”

Ryan Walker pointed to the small black box.“The test data running now is only three percent off from the final delivery version.”

Hearing this, Clara Bennett knew Ryan Walker understood what she was implying. A hint of a smile flashed in her eyes, her tone deliberately light.

“The current data far exceeds our initial expectations. The energy consumption issues we were worried about–I didn’t expect you to reduce them by fifteen points directly after modifying the algorithm, Engineer Walker.”

As she spoke, she deliberately picked up the test report from the table, flipping through it while keeping her voice at a volume just loud enough for the device hidden in the box to record.“It’s just that the final data hasn’t come out yet. If we don’t get it by tomorrow, will it affect the subsequent delivery?”

Ryan watched the sly glint in her eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already arranged for three teams to work in shifts. Once the data collection results are out, we can officially deliver it.”

“Great, then I’ll simulate the collection path and application route now.”

Clara turned her attention back to the screen, not getting up until it was nearly noon, when she stretched her neck.

“All done. Once the data comes out this afternoon, we’ll know the actual application results.”

The two walked out of the lab side by side. Ryan closed the door behind them, turning to meet Clara’s gaze.

Their eyes met, and they both laughed.

“That thing was probably put there by Natalie, at Margaret’s request.”

Clara leaned against the wall of the corridor, glancing at the closed door.

“I felt something was off when Margaret came to see me. She even deliberately bumped into my pocket. When I felt around, I found

this.”

“I just can’t figure out why Margaret would help Natalie do something like this.”

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Ryan glanced at her, a flicker of resentment crossing his eyes as he recalled the conversation he’d overheard between the two women in the Carter’s backyard yesterday.

“Natalie must have something on Margaret.”

He paused, ultimately deciding against revealing the full story.

This was his burden, and he didn’t want to drag Clara into it.

Hearing this, Clara raised an eyebrow, uninterested in Margaret’s predicament, and simply said, “I’ve seen that device before. It’s a miniature data logger with real–time transmission capabilities.”

“I used the computers here to alter the previous data. Now, the data on that computer appears identical to Blade’s core parameters, but the crucial algorithm logic and energy consumption control modules are completely wrong. They won’t be able to use it at all, and it will

lead their future research down a dead end.”

Ryan watched the confidence radiating from her face, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, his voice laced with admiration:“Even more thorough than I expected.”

“That’s not all.”

Clara tilted her head back to look at him, a hint of triumph sparkling in her eyes.“I already had Mr. Hayes contact the National Security Agency and turn over all the leads about Natalie’s contact with foreign organizations.”

“I also embedded a dual tracking program in the fake data. Whether they transmit it abroad via the internet or send someone to take it, like they’re doing now, the National Security Agency will be able to track their location in real time.”

Ryan gazed into her bright, sparkling eyes, a warmth spreading through his chest. He couldn’t resist reaching out and gently ruffling her hair.“When did you contact them? Why didn’t you tell me?”

He had been so distracted by Natalie’s words yesterday that he hadn’t promptly informed Clara, causing her to worry.

Clara tilted her head to evade his touch, her ears betraying her with a subtle blush.“I didn’t want you to worry. Besides, the more discreet the lead, the better. We can cast a wider net when they think they’ve succeeded.”

“Now that they’ve recorded the fake data, we don’t have to guard against Natalie’s petty tricks anymore.”

“Once they believe they have the real data, we can follow that trail and expose the person behind her.”

“Okay, I’ll handle the rest.”

Ryan smiled, having witnessed Clara’s growth step by step during this period.

“I can only rely on you for this.”

Clara turned and headed towards the research lab.“I have something to do tomorrow, so I’m taking a day off.”

Ryan remembered what day it was. “Is the trial tomorrow? Do you want me to go with you?”

Clara shook her head.“No, I can handle it myself.”

She paused, noticing the concern in Ryan’s eyes, and added, “I’ll text you when it’s over.”

Ryan nodded, not pressing the issue. He simply raised his hand and gently patted her shoulder.“Call me anytime if you need anything. My phone’s on twenty–four seven.”

Clara hummed in acknowledgment and turned to head towards the elevator.

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Watching her retreating figure, the tenderness in Ryan’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by a cold, sharp edge.

He would ensure that Natalie Parker walked right into his trap, giving him the chance to extract the truth about his mother’s

whereabouts from her.

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Meanwhile, at Apex.

Natalie Parker, wearing headphones, listened to the conversation between Clara and Ryan, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

A blond–haired, blue–eyed man sat in front of a computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard, a triumphant smile on his face.“Natalie, look, all the core data has been collected.”

“This data is even more complete than we anticipated. As soon as we take it back to headquarters, you’ll get that green card you’ve been wanting.”

Natalie took off her headphones and quickly walked over to the man, staring at the data transfer progress on the screen. She grinned.“Really? No errors?”

“Of course not.”

The man tapped the desk, his tone confident.“Our equipment is state–of–the–art. As long as we’re within the R&D lab’s range, we can precisely record all the data.”

“You heard Clara and Ryan’s conversation just now, they said this is the final version of the data, there won’t be any issues.”

Natalie picked up the glass on the table, took a sip of water, and tried to calm her excited mood.

A passport, leaving home, getting rid of that man forever – these things she had dreamed of were finally about to come true.

She looked at the data on the screen, as if she could already see herself holding a green card, living a leisurely life abroad.

“Great, when are you leaving?”

“Right now.”

The man copied the data to a USB drive and put it in his inside pocket.“I booked a flight for tonight, first to Harbor City, then to the Bay Area tomorrow, and then back home overnight.”

“Once headquarters confirms the data is correct, I’ll come pick you up with your green card.”

Natalie nodded, her smile growing brighter.“Be careful on the road, I’ll wait for your good news.”

The man stood up and patted her on the shoulder.“Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again soon.”

Watching the man’s departing figure, Natalie walked to the window, looking at the traffic outside, her eyes full of longing.

She took out her phone, found that man’s contact information, her finger hovering over the screen, but in the end, she didn’t make the

call.

Once she got her green card, she would delete his number for good, cutting him out of her life completely.

Little did she know, in the National Security Agency’s monitoring room, Ryan Walker was watching a red dot blinking on the screen with the case officers.

It was the signal from the tracking program hidden in the fake data, moving slowly toward the airport with the blond man’s steps.

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The NSA had already identified the man as a core member of a foreign tech espionage organization. His mission was to steal the core technology of Project Blade.

Natalie Parker and the organization behind her were trapped with no way out.

Back at her apartment after work, Clara Bennett organized the documents she needed for tomorrow’s hearing.

Whether it was the hearing that was making her nervous or something else, she couldn’t fall asleep in bed. Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined Ethan Carter’s reaction tomorrow and how she should respond.

Seeing that it was late, Clara turned on her bedside lamp and took a sleeping pill.

The pill, which usually worked quickly, had no effect tonight, making her even more anxious.

Suddenly, her phone lit up with a message from Ryan Walker.

“Data tracking is going smoothly. Don’t worry.”

“Get some rest. Good night.”

He even added a sleeping bunny emoji.

Clara smiled at the message, the anxiety in her heart gradually dissipating. She turned off the light and slowly closed her eyes.

Yeah, what was there to worry about?

Everything that needed to be prepared was ready.

Tomorrow, she would finally be free of Ethan Carter.

Downstairs, Ryan Walker watched as the lights went out in Clara’s bedroom. He put away his phone, a smile playing on his lips, and headed towards his own place.

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, landing on Clara as she woke up. She felt more refreshed than she had in ages.

After a quick wash, she changed into a simple, beige suit. The woman staring back from the mirror had a determined look in her eyes, not a trace of panic.

Grabbing the file she’d prepped, she arrived at the Courthouse half an hour early and met up with Attorney Brown.

“Ms. Bennett, everything’s ready.”

Attorney Brown handed her a supplemental document.“We went through the evidence again last night. It’s solid.”

Clara nodded, taking the document. She was about to speak when she heard familiar footsteps behind her.

She turned to see Ethan Carter walking towards her, tall and imposing in a custom black suit, followed by Ethan Jefferson, the head of the Carter Group’s legal department.

Ethan’s gaze locked onto Clara, his deep eyes swirling with complex emotions–resentment, pleading, and a hint of barely concealed

obsession.

He strode forward, reaching out to grasp her wrist.“Clara, can’t we talk this over?”

Clara sidestepped his hand, her voice cool.“There’s nothing for us to discuss.”

Margaret, who had been a step behind Ethan in getting out of the car, saw the scene and scoffed with displeasure.

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Clara really thought she could act all high and mighty just because she had the shares the old man left her.

She had a pretty good idea of what Natalie wanted, and when this thing blew up, Clara wouldn’t escape being held accountable.

Once she and Ethan were divorced, let’s see who would protect her then!

Ethan shot Margaret a cold look.

Sensing Ethan’s displeasure, Margaret, who had been about to mock Clara, glared at her resentfully and turned away.

Ethan’s gaze returned to Clara, his tone softening slightly, but his eyes still held a stubborn glint.“Did we really have to come to this?”

“I know you’re still angry, but we have Luke, and all these years together. We can’t just throw that away,” Ethan pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.

“Feelings?”

Clara let out a hollow laugh, as if she’d heard the most absurd thing imaginable. The sound was quiet, but it cut through the air like shards of ice.“Ethan, tell me, did we ever have anything real between us?”

She stepped closer, her gaze locking onto his, and she finally spoke the words that had been festering in her heart for years.

“In this marriage, you always held yourself above me, trapping me in that gilded cage of a mansion, denying me the chance to study abroad, forcing me to stay away from work. You wouldn’t even acknowledge me publicly. Even now, how many people in Chicago know that I’m really Luke’s mother?!”

“You treated me like property, like a breeding machine! You thought everything I wore, the house I lived in, everything I used was a gift from you, so I should obey your every command, like some pathetic, tail–wagging dog, letting you control me, letting you do whatever you wanted!”

Each word Clara spoke struck Ethan like a physical blow.

His face paled, his lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but he couldn’t find any way to defend himself.

Clara turned away from him, picked up her bag of documents, and walked resolutely up the courthouse steps, her back a symbol of her unwavering determination.

Ethan instinctively reached out to stop her, but Attorney Brown stepped forward, blocking his path.“Mr. Carter, the hearing is about to begin. Save your words for the courtroom.”

Ethan watched Clara’s resolute figure disappear into the courthouse, the tenderness in his eyes fading, replaced by a cold, hard edge.

He adjusted his tie, glanced at Ethan Jefferson beside him, and seeing the latter nod, he smirked, and strode up the steps.

Clara, after all these years, our lives are too intertwined. You think you can divorce me and just walk away? It won’t be that easy!

The

group entered the courthouse and made their way to a small mediation room.

Inside, a rectangular table sat in the center, flanked by four chairs on each side. A plaque on the wall proclaimed “Fair and Just. The judge sat at the head of the table, glanced through the file in front of her, then looked up at Clara and Ethan.“Do the parties wish to attempt mediation before we begin? Reaching a settlement would simplify the proceedings.”

Ethan nodded and was about to speak when Clara interjected, “No, thank you.”

Ethan fixed his gaze on Clara, “Are you

sure?”

Clara raised her eyes, giving him a brief, cool look, a hint of mockery in her tone.“What do

you

think?”

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Ethan raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ethan Jefferson, who promptly handed Clara a file.

“Mrs. Carter, perhaps you should take a look at this before we proceed,” Ethan Jefferson said.

Clara frowned, not moving to take it.

She knew Ethan wouldn’t give up so easily; he must be holding some trump card.

She couldn’t take it, afraid that reading it would cloud her judgment.

Attorney Brown sensed Clara’s hesitation, stepped forward, and took the file. He could feel the thick stack of papers inside.

He pulled out the documents, and his pupils sharply contracted as he read the title on the first page. His brow furrowed, and he instinctively looked at Clara, his eyes filled with concern.

Clara’s heart sank. She leaned in to see the heading of the document, which read:“Financial Loan Agreement between Anderson Industries and Carter Group,” dated four years prior.

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The agreement stated clearly that Anderson Industries had mortgaged the equity of three of its subsidiaries to borrow $50 million from the Carter Group. If the debt couldn’t be repaid within three years, the Carter Group would have the right to acquire all of Anderson Industries‘ assets.

Clara’s eyes shifted from the agreement to her trembling hands, her heart engulfed in a surge of anger.

Robert Anderson had actually borrowed so much money from Carter Group behind her back, the legal representative, and signed such a harsh agreement!

And Ethan, knowing how important Anderson Industries was to her, had never mentioned this, keeping the agreement hidden, waiting to use it to threaten her now!

Ethan had been watching Clara’s reaction, and a triumphant glint flashed in his eyes when he saw her grave expression.

He leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped in front of him.“Anderson Industries still hasn’t paid off this debt, and with interest, it’s almost eighty million dollars.”

“If you insist on going through with this divorce, I don’t mind initiating the liquidation process right now. According to the agreement, I have the right to acquire Anderson Industries.”

“Clara, you

wouldn’t want to see your grandfather and mother’s hard work go up in smoke, would you?”

He was waiting, waiting for Clara to give in.

Unexpectedly, Clara suddenly let out a cold laugh.“Ethan, you’re still so arrogant. You think you can threaten me with this?