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.

unmistakably Lorn’s work, and the Cordelia hadn’t deceived

The painting exuded a sense of desolation and

such a work go

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

now frozen in disbelief.

standing in the Watercolor Painting community was built on a keen eye. But why was B. Aster here? What brought him?

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

scandal had rippled through their circles, tarnishing the company’s rep.

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

actions, which he saw as a mockery of Watercolor Painting. He called off

was dead

his anger. He denied any impact

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

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 my

stage, the Millers laughed anew, “Mr. Delaney, are you

standing before Lorna’s painting, felt a sense of vindication wash over him.

She’s been living off

declared, “This piece is on par with the works of the masters, a truly

Murmurs of skepticism started to ripple through the crowd below,

too far–fetched. We’ve never even heard of Mrs. Delaney’s work before, and suddenly this painting pops up as

do you

easily replicated. It’s not something that can be measured

hundred bucks, that’d be a miracle! Where did you come from, spouting such nonsense?” As the crowd’s confusion

Aster

Chapter 139

Painting. He called off the deal with Sanderson, sneering, “A man whose wife is vain and fraudulent casts doubt on his own

deal was dead

livid, swallowed his anger. He denied any impact when Lorna asked,

fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this