Love or Die CEO’s Daily Dose of Swoon

Chapter 140

1. Aster?

The name sent a ripple of shock through the crowd gathered in the gallery. Eyes wide with disbelief, they turned to look, wondering if it was the same renowned artist they’d heard of.

Laurinda, however, was oblivious to the prestige. She hollered, “I don’t give a hoot of who he is. Fanny here is the president of the local art club, and she’s declared this painting worthless. So what are you rambling on about, eh?”

Fanny, the mentioned art club president, wished for nothing more than to vanish into thin air at that moment. But the more she wanted to escape the limelight, the more Laurinda sought her out, “Where’s Fanny?”

Pointing at Fanny, she demanded, “Well, Fanny, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Fanny’s lips quivered; she couldn’t muster a word and looked desperately towards Mrs. Collins for help.

Mrs. Collins felt a surge of vindication. She’d always thought Fanny spreading rumors about Mrs. Delaney was shady, and Fanny’s recent comment at the auction had pushed someone into an embarrassing spotlight, which

irked her.

This was her auction, a place where everyone showed respect. How dare anyone stir up trouble here, especially against the family of Joy’s beloved Cordelia?

So, the usually diplomatic and capable Mrs. Collins, who never embarrassed her guests, instead of smoothing things over for Fanny, slowly pronounced, “Laurinda, Fanny might be the head of the Greenmeadow Art Association, but B. Aster is the chair of the National Fine Art Association!”

That little piece of information was a revelation for everyone present.

Silence fell upon the gathering. Sanderson, too, was stunned by the turn of events and was momentarily speechless.

Everard, on the other hand, turned around, his cool gaze sweeping across the Miller family who had just scoffed at them, and casually remarked, “Yes, he was a pawn we arranged.”

Ballaster was called in by Cordelia, so he was indeed a pawn, wasn’t he?

To the Millers, the implication was mortifying! Who in their right mind could get B. Aster to act as a pawn? The remark from the Delaney family’s son–in–law was pure mockery!

couldn’t help but laugh, feeling even more satisfied with Everard.

continued to twist the knife into Fanny, “But why on earth would Fanny say that? Their

too. Why is your

Aster’s?”

I wonder why, if B. Aster has been searching for the artist Lorn, you told him that Lorn had passed away?”

“Fanny, you said you were

you’ve been against me ever since

gossip and speculate, quickly grasping the

Mrs. Delaney is actually an

story about her painting being pulled from the exhibition

Chapter 140

painting was too amateurish, but B. Aster recognized it as a masterpiece,

“Poor Mrs. Delaney.”

Delaney hasn’t painted for eighteen years; could it be because of Fanny’s

power of rumors was fully understood only

for years, eager to see her downfall, hastily added, “If this painting is so good, why didn’t it sell? What’s the use

echo of her words faded, a cool, deep

the familiar sound. Along with everyone else, she turned to see Everard raising his paddle.

for a painting by an

if he were mad. Rachel nudged her, “That’s

scoffed, “He’s just the owner of a small shop. Where’d he get the money? It must be Sanderson’s doing–just throwing money at Lorna to save face. Do they think we’re all fools?”

Then-

voice

astonishment to see Louie in the crowd, raising

Laurinda was stunned.

Ballaster, who hadn’t yet left the stage, suddenly joined in, “Actually, this price isn’t high at all. The artistic conception of this painting is

almost went unsold for a mere $50,000 had, in the blink of an eye,

highest bid of the day for any item had only reached $1 million until