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.

was unmistakably Lorn’s work, and

years, Lorn’s art had evolved. The painting exuded a sense of desolation

could such a work go

the steps onto the stage, leaning in to examine the painting through his

disbelief. She turned incredulously to see B. Aster approaching the front.

of Lorna’s paintings, of course. Her standing in the Watercolor Painting community

and Everard sat amidst the assembly, not with the

rippled through their circles, tarnishing

collaboration with the Miller family fell through at the

mockery of Watercolor Painting. He called

deal was dead in the

He denied any impact when Lorna asked, not

jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this is quite embarrassing, isn’t

in the back, watched the debacle unfold. Laurinda scoffed, “Such a disgrace! I told her not to auction

name.”

the ladies to show off their own treasures. I bet Lorna didn’t have the heart to part with the jewelry

approached the stage, the Millers laughed anew, “Mr. Delaney, are you sure this isn’t another stooge

of the whispers and the sneers, Ballaster, standing before Lorna’s painting, felt a sense of vindication wash over him. This

living off

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

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

it’s too far–fetched. We’ve never even heard of Mrs. Delaney’s work before,

do you reckon this painting is

and despair that isn’t easily replicated. It’s not something that can be measured in terms of money.”

into laughter at this, “You’re talking nonsense. Let me tell you, I know my daughter–in–law, and if her painting fetches a hundred bucks, that’d be a miracle! Where did you come

Aster

Chapter 139

a mockery of Watercolor Painting. He called off the deal with Sanderson, sneering,

was dead in

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

behind him, as Fanny’s painting neared an unsold fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this is quite embarrassing,