Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99

Clara stood before the floor–to–ceiling window, gazing at the endless stream of cars below. She felt the pounding of her heart in her chest, her throat tightening.

So Anthony Parker really was connected to Diane, and he was in Chicago!

“Track his movements. Once he’s settled, find an opportunity. I want to meet him.”

She desperately wanted to uncover the truth about the car accident that year, to expose Diane’s deeds to the world and bring her to justice.

But she couldn’t risk making a careless move and undoing all her previous efforts.

“Understood. I’ll let you know once everything is arranged.”

Hanging up, Clara took a deep breath, trying to exhale the turbid air from her chest. But before she could calm herself, the phone rang again.

It was Noah, whom the old man had arranged to help manage Anderson Industries.

Clara rubbed her churchs and swiped to answer.

“Ms. Bennett, is this a good time to talk?”

“Speak.”

Clara leaned against the window, her fingertips unconsciously scratching at the edge of the glass, leaving faint white marks.

“Word about this morning’s exchange has spread. I heard the baby didn’t make it.”

“Miss Anderson’s miscarriage has become public knowledge here in Chicago, and everyone is saying you did it on purpose.”

“Mr. Walker from Walker Venture Partners has issued a strict order to blacklist Anderson Industries.”

“All of our partners collectively sent letters of termination at noon, and even the banks have suspended our lines of credit. Anderson Industries won’t last three days at this rate.”

“And Mr. Bennett from the Bennett family in Boston is in contact with the shareholders, trying to buy their shares.”

“The shareholders are afraid of being implicated by you, and even more afraid that Mr. Walker will take his anger out on Anderson Industries. They’ve joined forces, demanding an explanation from you.”

“If you can’t provide one, they’ll transfer their shares to the Bennett family tomorrow morning, allowing the acquisition to go through. If this keeps up, I’m afraid…”

…Anderson Industries won’t survive.

Clara’s heart sank, and she frowned.

Those shareholders of Anderson Industries had long become loyal to Robert Anderson over the years. She had anticipated that they

would cause trouble sooner or later.

She’d always planned to buy out their shares and settle accounts with them for good, so their antics didn’t surprise her.

But she never expected Richard Bennett to make a move at this point!

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They were trying to corner bey and leave her new way over

“Okay, I understand”

Clark’s voice was tough and dry“Did the Bennette way anything deat

“Victor Bennett wants to meet with you?

Noah seked,“Should I schedule a time for you?

Victor Bennett wanted to see her?

What did he want to talk about?

Clara paused, considering “Alright, I’m a Nova Al die now. I’m free this evening, Can you set up a time for me?

She had to meet with Victor Bennett to we what he was up to

After hanging up, Clara leaned weakly against the wall, her phone slipping from her greap and landing with a wit thud on the carpes She didn’t have the strength to pick it up.

The late autumn sunlight streamed through the window, but it couldn’t dispel the chill in her heart.

Was she really going to stand by and watch her mother’s hard work be acquired by the Pennett family, benefiting Richard Bennett and

Diane Bennett?

No, she couldn’t do that. But she didn’t have enough capital to acquire the shares held by the shareholders….

Outside the office, Ryan Walker, holding a Blade data confirmation sheet, watched the scene, a flash of heartache in his eyes.

After a long moment, he turned and walked away, heading to the smoking area where he made a call

“Contact all the shareholders of Anderson Industries. If they want to sell their shares, no matter what conditions they set, acquire the

shares from them.”

“Remember, don’t reveal my identity. Just say it’s a third–party investment.”

“Also, give the Bennett family some trouble. Don’t let them have plenty of funds.”

After hanging up, he returned to the front of Clara’s office.

Clara was still in the same position as before, her eyes closed. He composed himself and knocked on the door.

“What are you thinking about?”

Clara opened her eyes, smiled when she saw Ryan, and said, “Nothing, just feeling a bit tired.”

“Is the conference affecting you?”

Ryan didn’t call her bluff, smiled, and shook his head.“How could it affect me?”

“I’ve asked someone to look into Emma’s prenatal records. I should have them by tomorrow or the day after.”

“If there’s really something wrong with the baby, what are you going to do?”

A glint of sharpness flashed in Clara’s eyes. “Give it to Mason. Let him know the truth.”

“Besides, I also have evidence of Robert shorting Anderson Industries. They’ve come after me time and time again; I won’t let them off the hook this time!”

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“Okay.”

Ryan’s eyes flashed with relief, and he smiled. “If there’s anything you need me to do, just tell me. Don’t be polite with me.

“Okay, thank you.”

Clara’s voice was soft.

She should have thanked him back at the conference, when Ryan had believed in her without hesitation.

Ryan smiled, raised his hand to ruffle her hair, but seeing the weariness in her eyes, he just shook his head helplessly.

“We’re being polite with each other now.”

Mer

He’d watched Clara struggle to break free from her constraints, surrounded on all sides, and make her way to where she was now, every step of the way.

Initially, he just felt bad that her talent in AI had been sidelined by marriage and childbirth. Then, he heard Lila say that her husband and son didn’t treat her well.

He felt sorry for her, but also admired her resilience.

Later, when he found out that her husband was Ethan Carter, he considered distancing himself. After all, the reason he retired early and returned to Chicago was to get revenge on the Carter family.

But later, as they spent time together, he found himself drawn to her and wanted to see what she was capable of.

In reality, once the Blade project was completed and had the backing of the U.S. Department of Defense, neither the Walker family nor the Bennett family would dare to try to control her.

Still, he couldn’t help but want to help her, to ease her burden and give her some support.

But even after everything they’d been through, she still seemed a bit distant with him.

Thinking about the project, Ryan recalled what Benjamin Hayes had said earlier.

“Oh, by the way, the head of Grand Horizon Tech wants to confirm a time to meet with you to discuss collaborating on the Blade

project.”

Clara smacked her forehead, realizing that was right.“Sorry, I’ve had so much going on lately that I forgot about it.”

She thought for a moment.“They want civilian cooperation on Blade, and I think that’s fine.”

“But now that Blade is in its final phase, I think it’s better to wait until the project is completed before discussing this.” “By then, we’ll have results in hand, giving us more leverage and benefiting Nova Al even more. What do you think?”

Ryan watched her earnest expression, a smile flickering in his eyes.

He loved her indomitable spirit, her ability to maintain a clear head no matter the difficulties she faced.

“I think that’s great. I’ll let Mr. Hayes know and respond to Grand Horizon Tech.”

–

Apex CEO’s Office.

Natalie Parker stood behind the executive desk, looking at Ethan Carter, who radiated coldness, and couldn’t help but shiver.

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“Natalie Parker, I want to know how Apex obtained the Blade data.”

Ethan sat languidly on the guest sofa, tapping the armrest, his eyes fixed on Natalie, observing her expression.

“I also want to know why he was trying to take that data out of the country.”

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“He claimed he was acting under the instructions of a Carter Group executive, but he couldn’t specify who. Do you know why?

Yesterday, after leaving the Courthouse, he received a call from the National Security Agency informing him of an investigation into Carter Group. Upon arriving, he learned that an Apex employee had smuggled classified data out of the country and alleged that a Carter Group executive had ordered it. He had been dealing with the matter ever since.

Natalie had never seen Ethan so intimidating. She bit the tip of her tongue, forcing herself to remain calm, and managed a weak smile.

“Eth, I honestly don’t know anything about this.”

“You know I’m just the head of the U.S. branch. When people from headquarters come to inspect, all I do is accompany them. I have no

idea what he was doing here.”

“You said he was smuggling classified data out of the country? Did they catch him?”

Just over ten minutes ago, Natalie had been in her office, dreaming of getting her green card and immigrating abroad. She hadn’t expected Ethan to burst into her office, ignoring his assistant’s attempts to stop him.

Hearing that the person smuggling the data had been caught made her weak.

But from what Ethan was saying, it seemed that the guy hadn’t implicated her. Instead, he’d shifted the blame to the Carter Group.

This made her breathe a sigh of relief.

“What kind of data did he take? Is it very important?”

Natalie looked worried.“Is it really that someone high up in the Carter Group is involved, or is some foreign power trying to suppress the Carter Group and deliberately throwing mud at us?”

Ethan watched Natalie, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Natalie’s expression was flawless, and what she said made sense.

Based on the many years they had known each other, and from his understanding of her, she probably wouldn’t do something like that. But he still couldn’t rest easy.

After all, the human heart is the hardest thing to fathom.

His phone buzzed. Ethan picked it up, read the message from his assistant, and his expression shifted.

Clara pushed Emma, causing her to miscarry?

Anderson Industries was suffering under Walker Venture Partners‘ pressure, and the Bennett family was trying to take the opportunity to acquire them?

He knew Clara. She loved kids so much. How could she hurt Emma’s baby?

But why was she entangled with Emma and Mason?

Thinking about her and Mason’s past,

It felt like a rock was lodged in his chest, an unspeakable discomfort.

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Could it be that she still harbored feelings for Mason?

“Eth.”

Natalie saw Ethan staring at his phone, not saying anything, and assumed he had received more news about the confidential data.

Her heart sank, and her face paled slightly. Her voice took on an edge of urgency.“The people from headquarters are just here for a routine inspection, right? The data he tried to smuggle out of the country has nothing to do with me!”

“You have to believe me.”

Ethan looked up, his eyes cold and devoid of warmth.“It better be.”

“Natalie, no matter what, I don’t want you doing anything that betrays your country.”

”

Meno

“Also, I haven’t forgotten what I promised you. Don’t forget your current position either, and don’t do anything extra in the future.”

He stood up, slung his coat over his arm, and looked at Natalie Parker.“I have things to take care of. I’m leaving. Take care of yourself. Don’t do anything foolish, or I won’t protect you.”

He was eager to find out what had happened at the conference and what was going on between Clara Bennett and Mason Walker.

More than that, he was desperate to offer Clara his support, to let her know that he had her back. As long as they were married, he

I would be her rock.

He had neither the time nor the inclination to argue with Natalie Parker any longer.

“Eth…”

Ignoring Natalie’s call, he strode out.

Natalie Parker watched his retreating figure, gritting her teeth.

“Ethan Carter, what do you mean, ‘take care of myself“?”

“You seem to have forgotten that you were the one who vouched for Apex and Nova Al’s partnership and acted as the go–between!”

“We’re in this together. If I go down, you’re going down with me!”

“Besides, I got this data through your mother, Margaret Carter!”

Thinking of this, Natalie Parker narrowed her eyes.

How could the people from headquarters have been intercepted at the airport?

That USB drive was specially developed by the higher–ups; it can block all signals, unless… there was something wrong with the data itself!

Had Margaret told Clara about this? Or did Clara know something and tamper with the data?!

Thinking of this, Natalie’s eyes were filled with resentment.

She picked up her phone and called Margaret.

“Margaret, don’t forget I still have evidence of all the good deeds you’ve done.”

“How dare you join forces with Clara to plot against me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose those things?!”

Margaret was in the garden watering flowers when she received the call. She was completely bewildered by Natalie’s yelling.“What did I

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plot against you?”

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She had been racking her brain these past few days, trying to figure out how to make Clara willingly have a child. She was in no mood to plot against anyone.

Natalie didn’t care about any of that and simply said, “Listen, if you don’t want those things to become common knowledge, then find a way to get Clara to leave her job. I don’t care how you do it.”

“One month… no, at most half a month. I’m only giving you half a month.”

“If Clara is still at Nova AI after half a month, I’ll expose everything you’ve done!”

After hanging up, Margaret’s face alternated between red and white. In all her years, she had never been yelled at like that!

But she was indeed afraid that Natalie would reveal those things. She gritted her teeth, put down the hose, and went back inside to figure out a solution.

As dusk settled, Clara drove away from Nova Al, heading to meet Victor Bennett.

But as she pulled out of the parking lot, a black G–Wagon blocked her path. Mason Walker’s stern profile emerged as the window rolled

down.

He had imagined that if Clara called, humbled herself, and apologized to Emma Anderson, giving her some closure, he might lift the ban on Anderson Industries.

But he had waited all afternoon without a single word.

At his wit’s end, he had no choice but to intercept her at Nova AI.

Seeing him, Clara, who had been about to get out and confront him, stopped, locked the car doors, shifted into reverse, and prepared to drive around him.

But Mason didn’t give her the chance. He got out of his car, his towering figure exuding a palpable pressure, and strode to the driver’s

side.

“Stop right there.”

Clara glanced at the black sedan that had appeared behind her car and reluctantly lowered the window a crack.

“What do you

want?”

“What do I want?”

Mason scoffed, his anger flaring at her reluctance to even show her face.

“Emma Anderson is still in the hospital, her baby gone, and she can’t have children anymore. You ask me what I want?”

“Don’t you think you owe me an explanation for all this?”

“Haven’t you already blacklisted Anderson Industries?”

Clara Bennett glared at him through the car window, her voice laced with ice. “You’ve successfully cornered me. What more do you want from me?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Mason Walker’s face. He clearly hadn’t expected this reaction. He hesitated, then softened his tone.“Clara, I didn’t mean to push you this far.”

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“It’s just…this is huge. Just swallow your pride, apologize to Emma Anderson, and I’ll lift the block on Anderson Industries. Name your price, Clara. I’ll cover all expenses.”

Clara rolled her eyes, utterly incredulous at Mason’s warped logic.

“First, I don’t need your money.”

“Second, I didn’t push her. She fell on her own.”

“You don’t believe me? Fine. I’ll find the proof to clear my name.”

Mason, infuriated by her defiance, snapped, “Everyone at the conference saw you. Are you really trying to say you didn’t push her?

“Clara, I’m giving you one last chance. Come with me to the hospital, apologize to Emma, compensate her for her loss, and I’ll let this

go.”

“Mason Walker, what gives you the right to say any of this? I didn’t do it, and I won’t take the blame!”

She glanced at the time, restarted the engine, her eyes like chips of ice.“Move. You’re wasting my time.”

Mason took a step forward, positioning himself in front of the hood.“Clara, this is my final offer. Apologize at the hospital, or you’re not going anywhere today.”

A flash of impatience crossed Clara Bennett’s eyes. She stomped on the accelerator, reversed, and slammed into the black car blocking

her way.

A man emerged from the car – just as she expected, Mason Walker’s assistant.

Clara scoffed, a flicker of ruthlessness in her eyes. She shifted gears, floored the accelerator, and drove straight ahead.

Mason barely dodged out of the way as the white SUV slammed into the black G–Wagon, bringing it to a complete halt.

Clutching her purse, Clara opened the door, stepped out, glanced at the stunned Mason, and said coldly, “I’m not going to apologize. Don’t bother me again.”

Mason watched her retreating figure, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with a storm of mixed emotions.

When had Clara become so unyielding?

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