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

painting exuded a sense of desolation and solitude,

such a work

up the steps onto the stage, leaning in to examine the

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

paintings, of course. Her standing in the Watercolor Painting community was built on a keen eye.

the assembly, not with the ladies but

scandal had rippled through their circles,

potential collaboration with the Miller family fell through at

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

was dead in the

impact when Lorna asked, not wishing to burden

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

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

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

with “Hold on a moment!” and he approached the stage, the Millers laughed anew, “Mr. Delaney, are you

Ballaster, standing before Lorna’s painting, felt a sense of vindication wash over him. This was no sham, no act of vanity. It was art, pure and simple, and it

snorted derisively, “Obviously, she’s broke and 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? Who’s the old guy taking the

crowd’s expressions varied, Ballaster, had finished scrutinizing the painting. He stood tall and declared, “This piece is on par with the

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

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

Collins, undeterred, asked directly, “So, what do you reckon

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

a 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 and gentlemen, this

Aster

Chapter 139

the Millers, a passionate art lover, was appalled by Lorna’s actions, which he saw as a mockery of Watercolor Painting. He called off the deal with Sanderson, sneering, “A man

dead in

his anger. He denied any impact when Lorna

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