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

exuded a sense

could such a work

crowd, Ballaster dashed up the steps onto the stage,

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. But why

the assembly, not with the

rippled through their

the Delaney Group’s potential collaboration with the Miller

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

dead in the water.

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

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

watched the debacle unfold. Laurinda scoffed, “Such a disgrace! I told her not to auction off the painting, but she

name.”

ladies to show off their own treasures. I bet Lorna didn’t have the heart to

“Hold on a moment!” and he approached the stage,

whispers and the sneers, 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 deserved its

doesn’t know the first thing about making money. She’s been living off

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

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

heard of Mrs. Delaney’s work before, and suddenly this painting pops up as a

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

shook his head, “This painting captures a desolation and despair that isn’t easily replicated. It’s not something

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

Aster

Chapter 139

saw as a mockery of Watercolor Painting. He called off the deal

was dead in the water.

any impact when Lorna

jeered, “Mr.