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

point, Laurinda continued to twist the knife into Fanny, “But why on earth would Fanny say that? Their opinions couldn’t be more

“Indeed, I’m curious too. Why is your

Aster’s?”

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

been admiring the painting “Lone Bluff,‘ finally caught up and frowned, “Fanny, you said you were Lorn’s roommate and that she

“Fanny, you’ve been against me ever since

the dots, the crowd began to gossip and speculate,

Delaney is actually

story about her painting being pulled from the exhibition

Chapter 140

Delaney’s painting was too amateurish, but B. Aster recognized it as a masterpiece, looks like deliberate sabotage to me.”

“Poor Mrs. Delaney.”

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

only

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?

of her words faded, a cool, deep voice spoke up, “1 million

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

for a painting by an obscure

as if he

“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

Then-

voice called

astonishment to see Louie in the crowd, raising his paddle.

Laurinda was stunned.

isn’t high at all. The artistic conception of this painting is rare. It will

moments ago, the painting that almost went unsold for a

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