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!

this, Sanderson couldn’t help but laugh, feeling even more

point, Laurinda continued to twist the knife into Fanny, “But why on earth would

I’m curious too. Why is your opinion so starkly different from B.

Aster’s?”

up leisurely, “Fanny, I wonder why, if B. Aster has been searching for the artist Lorn,

you said you were Lorn’s roommate and that

“Fanny, you’ve been against me

to gossip and speculate, quickly

is

from the exhibition because of bribery–that was spread by

Chapter 140

Aster

“Poor Mrs. Delaney.”

eighteen years; could it be because of

rumors was fully understood only by those who

this painting is indeed subpar, not my cup of tea. Is there a problem with that?” Lourinda, who had resented Lorna for years, eager to see her downfall, hastily added, “If this painting is so good, why didn’t it sell? What’s the use of painting well? It’s just

a cool, deep voice spoke up, “1 million

else, she turned to see Everard raising his

painting by an obscure artist?

Everard as if he were mad. Rachel nudged

a small shop. Where’d he get the money? It must be Sanderson’s doing–just throwing money at Lorna to save face. Do

Then-

million!” another voice called

recognizing the voice, turned again in astonishment to see Louie in the crowd, raising his

Laurinda was stunned.

million!” 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 rare. It will undoubtedly

auction staff were dumbfounded for quite a while. Just moments ago, the painting that almost went unsold for a mere $50,000 had, in the blink of an eye,

into perspective, the highest bid of the day for any item had only reached