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

evolved. The painting exuded a sense of desolation and solitude, rich in

could such a

steps onto the stage,

was now frozen in disbelief. She turned incredulously to see B. Aster approaching

knew the caliber of Lorna’s paintings, of course. Her standing in the Watercolor Painting community was built on a keen eye.

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

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

instance, the Delaney Group’s potential collaboration with the

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 the deal with Sanderson, sneering, “A man whose wife

was dead in the water.

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

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

and Rachel, seated in the back, watched the debacle unfold. Laurinda scoffed, “Such a 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.”

low on funds. These charity galas are for the ladies to show off their own treasures.

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

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

She’s been living off Sanderson’s dime, hasn’t she? But

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

below, “This has to be a publicity stunt, right? But even so,

heard of Mrs. Delaney’s work before, and suddenly this painting pops up as a one–of–a–kind masterpiece?”

asked directly, “So, what do

easily replicated. It’s not something

a hundred bucks, that’d be a

Aster

Chapter 139

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 water.

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

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