His Last Command Came Back to Kill Him novel Chapter 147

Ever since she joined the lab, Whitley had been in overdrive. The proposals and frameworks she pitched outclassed many of the senior researchers and PhDs.

Watching the relentless drive in her eyes, Zinnia let out a soft sigh. "If you hadn't gotten married back then, you would already be a leading figure at the National Research Institute by now."

Whitley's lips tightened briefly before she offered a faint smile. "Starting now isn't too late."

Zinnia was worried she was going to snap from the pressure. "Don't push yourself to the breaking point. Take an extra day off. I managed to score a ticket to the Heritage Arts Expo—they're incredibly hard to get. Go out. Breathe."

Knowing Zinnia meant well, Whitley nodded and accepted.

Zinnia stayed and chatted for a long time. Only after confirming Whitley was emotionally stable did she finally leave.

The second she walked out of the building, she called Chisholm Vance. "Whitley's ambition is honestly terrifying right now."

"If things had been different, she'd already be at the absolute top of the industry. It's tragic how those people and their drama stole so many years from her."

Chisholm was quiet for a moment before his deep voice came through the speaker. "She knows that the only way to stand up to the Sherwoods is by becoming untouchable."

Zinnia paused, the realization hitting her.

Clive wielded immense power. If he truly wanted to destroy her, and she didn't have the status and leverage to fight back, she wouldn't stand a chance.

***

The next day, after wrapping up some remote work, Whitley headed to the art expo.

The exhibition focused on traditional ceramic arts, featuring intricate, deeply evocative pieces.

She had hoped to use the quiet atmosphere to smooth out the chaos in her mind, and to absorb some inspiration.

The hall was filled with breathtaking works—flawless glazes, delicate carvings.

Whitley strolled slowly, her eyes drifting over the displays, her pulse finally steadying.

But as she stopped in front of an intricately carved, white porcelain vase, she froze.

Her chest seized.

She knew this vase.

It was the Alabaster Legacy Vase. Shamar had fired it with his own hands as a coming-of-age gift for her when she was officially welcomed back into the family.

She thought it had been lost to time; she hadn't been able to track it down for years.

And yet, here it was.

A rare, genuine spark of joy lit up her eyes. She immediately sought out the gallery curator.

Seeing her intense focus on the piece, the curator smiled. "You have an excellent eye, miss. This is a special guest piece for the exhibition. Quite a few people have been asking about it."

"I want to buy it," Whitley said, her voice tight. "Name the price."

This was one of the very few things her grandfather had left her. To her, it was priceless.

She hadn't spent much time with him, but their bond had been profound.

"Exactly," Leroy chimed in. "Don't embarrass yourself. Standing here pretending you can afford it is just wasting everyone's time."

Whitley didn't have the patience to engage. Her voice was razor-sharp. "If your brother wants to follow you around catering to your every whim, I don't care. Just stop barking in my direction."

She turned her back, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a response.

Leroy's face flushed with fury. "Did she just call me a dog?!"

Yelena hid her smile behind her hand. "You know how volatile she gets. Why let her drag you down?"

Leroy looked up at Clive, waiting for him to step in and defend them.

But Clive just shifted his gaze, thoroughly disinterested, and kept walking deeper into the gallery.

Whitley moved a short distance away to wait in peace.

A few minutes later, the curator hurried back, looking incredibly awkward. "Ms. Nash, the collector got back to me..."

Whitley tensed. "Are they willing to sell?"

The curator hesitated, lowering their voice. "The collector just received another offer. The other party made a highly aggressive bid and explicitly stated... that this piece must not be sold to you."

Whitley froze. "Why?"

"They didn't give a reason. They just said they didn't want you to have it."