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.

Lorn’s work, and the Cordelia hadn’t deceived him!

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

could such a work

just a view from the crowd, Ballaster dashed up the steps

Fanny’s face, once full of mockery, was now frozen in disbelief. She turned incredulously to see B. Aster approaching the front.

Her 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 the

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

with the Miller family fell through at the eleventh

patriarch of the Millers, a passionate art lover, was appalled by Lorna’s actions, which he saw as a mockery of Watercolor Painting. He called off

was dead in the

anger. He denied any impact when Lorna asked, not

painting neared an unsold fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney,

disgrace! I told her not to auction off the painting, but she didn’t listen. Now look! Lorna has brought shame to the Delaney

name.”

be running low on funds. These charity galas are for the ladies to show off their own treasures. I bet Lorna didn’t have the heart to part with the

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

of the whispers and the sneers, Ballaster, standing before Lorna’s painting, felt a sense of vindication wash over him. This was no sham,

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

tall and declared, “This piece is on par

to ripple through the crowd below, “This has to be a publicity stunt, right? But even so, this is a bit much.”

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

asked directly, “So, what do you reckon this painting is worth?”

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

be

Aster

Chapter 139

mockery of Watercolor Painting. He called

dead in the

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

with the Millers seated behind him, as Fanny’s painting neared an unsold fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this is quite embarrassing, isn’t it? Don’t