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.

work, and the Cordelia hadn’t deceived him!

evolved. The painting exuded a sense of desolation and

could such a work go unsold?

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

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

of Lorna’s paintings, of course. Her standing in the Watercolor Painting community was built on a keen eye. But why was B. Aster

amidst the assembly, not with the ladies but with the

scandal had rippled through their circles, tarnishing

potential collaboration with the Miller family fell

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

was dead in the

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

as Fanny’s painting neared an unsold fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this

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

name.”

must 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

a moment!” and he approached the stage, the Millers laughed anew, “Mr. Delaney, are you sure this isn’t

felt a sense of vindication wash over him. This

about making money. She’s been living off Sanderson’s dime, hasn’t she? But what’s this

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

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

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

asked directly, “So, what do you

and despair that isn’t easily replicated.

hundred bucks, that’d be a miracle! Where did you come from, spouting such nonsense?” As the crowd’s confusion deepened, Mrs. Collins hastily introduced him, “Ladies

Aster

Chapter 139

Painting. He called off the deal

was dead in the

any impact

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