His Last Command Came Back to Kill Him novel Chapter 25

It was spoken with the effortless authority of a man used to being obeyed. He clearly didn't care about what kind of mood she was in.

Whitley pulled the door open and slid into the back seat. The familiar, crisp scent of his cologne immediately wrapped around her.

There was a time when she had desperately craved this proximity, when she had held onto a foolish hope for their marriage and their future.

Now, sitting next to him, she felt absolutely nothing. There was no point in fighting for something that was never hers.

Cole got back into the driver’s seat and instantly pulled away from the curb.

Clive didn't say a word. He remained completely detached, as if acknowledging her presence would be a waste of his valuable time. They lived in entirely different stratospheres.

"Where are we going?" she finally asked.

"The Manor," Clive replied, not looking up from his files. "Grandma wants us there for dinner."

Whitley frowned, parting her lips to speak, but hesitated.

Clive glanced up, his eyes briefly landing on her bare wrist. "Where’s the bracelet? Tired of it?"

Whitley met his gaze evenly. "Whether I wear it or not is my business, isn't it?"

His eyes narrowed slightly. He also noticed her wedding ring was missing. She never took that off.

His expression remained indifferent, and he didn't press the issue.

Whitley felt a dull ache in her chest. She wanted to bring up the divorce again but figured he was probably already having his lawyers draft the paperwork. After all, he despised her and was infatuated with Yelena. He probably wanted out more than she did. Why bother annoying him by repeating it?

Still, his grandmother needed to know.

Bonnie had recently recovered from surgery. She was a sharp, reasonable woman. Even if the marriage ended, Whitley still cared deeply for her.

But one thing confused Whitley. Given Yelena's dramatic hospital stunt earlier, she should have already called Clive crying, framing Whitley for attempted murder. Judging by Clive's perfectly calm demeanor, he clearly hadn't heard the news yet.

That was a first. Yelena usually never missed an opportunity to play the victim.

She instinctively glanced at Clive.

Clive set his glass down. "We'll see."

Coming from him, 'we'll see' was a definitive rejection.

Bonnie frowned but didn't push it.

Once dinner wrapped up, Clive stood. "Grandma, I'm going back to the study to finish some work." He didn't even spare Whitley a glance before walking out of the dining room.

Leroy smirked at Whitley. "Karma’s a bitch, isn't it?"

To him, this was what she deserved for stealing another woman's fiancé.

Bonnie’s frown deepened. It didn't take a genius to see how fractured their dynamic was. Clive's sheer indifference made her heart sink.

She reached out, wrapping her warm hands over Whitley’s freezing ones. Her eyes filled with concern as she lowered her voice. "Whitley, sweetheart, what's going on? You and Clive having a fight?"