His Last Command Came Back to Kill Him novel Chapter 148

The curator had barely finished speaking when the light click of Yelena's heels sounded behind them.

Trailing behind Clive, her smile was sickeningly sweet. "Sorry about that. It looks like the collector already promised this piece to me."

Whitley's eyes snapped to Clive.

His face was a mask of perfect indifference, as if he had absolutely nothing to do with what just happened.

But she knew. The only person in this city with the influence to make a private collector instantly back out of a sale—and explicitly blacklist her—was him.

He refused to let her have the one thing her grandfather had left her.

He would rather hijack it for Yelena just to humiliate her.

A suffocating pressure built in Whitley's chest, bringing back the dizzy spell she had just fought off.

To him, anything she held dear was just garbage to be stolen and crushed.

Clive tilted his head toward Yelena, a rare, faint trace of warmth entering his tone. "Since when did you take an interest in this kind of art?"

"Looking at business proposals all day gets exhausting. I wanted something to elevate the aesthetic of the house," Yelena replied playfully.

Leroy immediately leaned in to admire the vase, nodding enthusiastically. "You have great taste. This vase is super unique. It's going to look amazing in the living room."

Whitley took a step forward, her voice hard and uncompromising. "Excuse me, but I found this piece first. I am buying it."

This was an artifact crafted by her grandfather's own hands. It meant everything to her.

Javier's health had completely deteriorated since Shamar's passing. If she could just bring this piece home, it might give him some comfort.

"I want it," Yelena said, her smile vanishing, replaced by cold entitlement. "Our family just launched a new corporate project. I'm buying this to celebrate the launch."

Leroy tugged at Yelena's sleeve, lifting his chin to sneer at Whitley. "Stop trying to steal it. You can't even afford it. My brother adores Yelena. He'll buy her whatever she wants."

Yelena reached out and affectionately patted Leroy's head. "Even a child understands how the world works better than you do."

The entourage following them threw mocking glances at Whitley. "Ms. Nash, the two of them are clearly in love. Mr. Sherwood is buying his partner a gift. You're just embarrassing yourself by trying to wedge your way in."

The little girl standing beside Whitley furrowed her brows, unable to watch the scene any longer. "You're being really rude," she mumbled.

Leroy's face darkened instantly. He rounded on Whitley. "Is this how you raise kids? She has zero manners."

Reid pointed to the vase in the glass case. "My father loaned this piece out for the exhibit. Just checking in on it."

He glanced at the curator. "I hear there's some interest?"

The curator was about to gesture toward Whitley—

"Yelena wants it. Name your price."

Clive's smooth, commanding voice cut right through the air.

Whitley whipped her head toward him, her heart clenching violently.

He knew she had asked for it first. He knew this was her grandfather's work. Yet without a second of hesitation, he was using his leverage to steal it for Yelena.

When it came to financial power, she had absolutely no way to outbid Clive Sherwood.

Reid nodded. "I just checked with my father. For the right number, we can let it go."

"It's not an antique, but the artisan was Shamar, a heritage master. Since his passing, his works have become highly sought after by collectors."