Love or Die CEO’s Daily Dose of Swoon

Chapter 139

Ballaster wasn’t looking to make a scene, he was there on a mission. So he tucked himself away in the back corner, the last row where no one knew his face.

The auction items up till now had been a snore–fest. He and Naylor, both art aficionados, exchanged frowns. This kind of gathering was beneath them.

He was itching to leave, but he couldn’t–not until he’d seen the painting.

Finally, the painting from Mrs. Delaney appeared. But Ballaster was too far back to see it clearly. He caught at blurry glimpse and didn’t think much of it.

The chatter of the crowd was grating on his nerves.

Fanny, for all her lack of prowess in landscape painting, could still critique a piece with some level of expertise. And Cordelia’s mother, seemed out of her league. Cordelia used Lorn’s name to lure him here, just to boost her mom’s confidence?

Despite his fear of the group’s ringleader, he had his pride as a man of letters.

Ballaster whipped out his smartphone, unable to resist venting in the “Who’s exactly the girl” chat group.

1. Aster said, [I’m at a loss for words. Cordelia is out of her depth, it seems.]

After his brief rant, he set the phone aside.

Naylor, on the other hand, snapped a high–resolution photo of the painting and handed the phone to Ballaster. “Dad, take a look at this.”

Ballaster took the phone with a furrowed brow and was stunned. The style… was it not strikingly similar to Lorn’s?

He adjusted his glasses and gave the photo a closer look,

The digital image was a tad distorted, so he stood up and made his way to the front. It wasn’t long before he found himself in the first row with a clear view. And there it was–the painting in all its glory!

Just as the auctioneer was about to declare the painting unsold, Ballaster cut in, “Hold on a moment!”

The auctioneer paused, looking bewildered, as Mrs. Collins shot a knowing glance to silence him.

And now, Ballaster could truly appreciate the artwork up close.

and the Cordelia hadn’t deceived

exuded a sense of desolation and

could such a work go unsold?

Ballaster dashed up the steps onto the stage, leaning in to examine the painting

now frozen in disbelief. She turned incredulously to see B. Aster approaching

paintings, of course. Her standing in the Watercolor Painting community was built

and Everard sat amidst the assembly, not with the ladies but with

had rippled through their circles, tarnishing the company’s

the Delaney Group’s potential collaboration with the Miller family fell

Lorna’s actions, which he saw as a mockery of Watercolor Painting.

deal was dead

his anger. He denied any impact when Lorna asked, not wishing to burden her with

an unsold fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this is quite embarrassing, isn’t it? Don’t tell me, this is

debacle unfold. Laurinda scoffed, “Such a disgrace! I told her not to auction off the painting, but she didn’t listen. Now look! Lorna has brought shame

name.”

to show off their own treasures. I

with “Hold on a moment!” and he approached the stage, the Millers laughed

over him. This was no sham, no act of vanity. It was art, pure and simple, and it deserved its due

doesn’t know the first thing about making money. She’s been living off Sanderson’s dime, hasn’t she? But what’s this now?

varied, Ballaster, had finished scrutinizing the painting. He stood tall and declared, “This piece is on par with the works of

was almost unheard of. Murmurs of skepticism started to ripple through the crowd below, “This has to be a publicity

heard of Mrs. Delaney’s work before, and suddenly this painting pops up

what do you reckon this painting

his head, “This painting captures a desolation and despair that isn’t easily replicated. It’s not something that can be measured

know my daughter–in–law, and if her painting fetches a hundred bucks, that’d be a miracle! Where did you come from, spouting such nonsense?” As the crowd’s confusion deepened, Mrs. Collins

Aster

Chapter 139

he saw as a mockery of Watercolor Painting. He called off the deal with Sanderson, sneering, “A man whose wife is vain and fraudulent casts doubt on his own character,”

was dead in

and livid, swallowed his anger. He denied any impact when Lorna asked, not wishing

neared an unsold fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this is quite embarrassing, isn’t it? Don’t tell me, this is