SWNOVELS Chapter 139
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.
It was unmistakably Lorn’s work, and the Cordelia hadn't deceived him!
Moreover, after eighteen years, Lorn’s art had evolved. The painting exuded a
sense of desolation and solitude, rich in emotion—a masterpiece!
How could such a work go unsold?
Unsatisfied with just a view from the crowd, Ballaster dashed up the steps onto
the stage, leaning in to examine the painting through his glasses....
Below, Fanny's face, once full of mockery, was now frozen in disbelief. She
turned incredulously to see B. Aster approaching the front.
She knew the caliber of Lorna's paintings, of course. Her standing in the
Watercolor Painting community was built on a keen eye. But why was B. Aster
here? What brought him?
Meanwhile, Sanderson and Everard sat amidst the assembly, not with the ladies
but with the businessmen.
Lorna's scandal had rippled through their circles, tarnishing the company’s rep.
For instance, the Delaney Group's potential collaboration with the Miller family fell
through at the eleventh
hour. The 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 the deal
with Sanderson, sneering, “A man whose wife is vain and fraudulent casts doubt
on his own character.”
The deal was dead in the water.
Sanderson, mocked and livid, swallowed his anger. He denied any impact when
Lorna asked, not wishing to burden her with guilt.
And now, with the Millers seated behind him, as Fanny's painting neared an
unsold fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this is quite embarrassing, isn't it? Don't
tell me, this is another actor you've hired?”
Laurinda 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.”
Rachel chuckled, “Well, Mom, they must be running low on funds. These charity
galas are for the ladies to show off their own treasures. I bet Lorna didn’t have
the heart to part with the jewelry my brother bought her.”
But as Ballaster’s voice rang out with “Hold on a moment!” and he approached
the stage, the Millers laughed anew, “Mr. Delaney, are you sure this isn't another
stooge you've arranged?”
In the midst of the 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 due recognition.
Laurinda snorted derisively, “Obviously, she’s broke and doesn't know the first
thing about making money. She's been living off Sanderson's dime, hasn't she?
But what's this now? Who's the old guy taking the stage?”
As 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
masters, a truly unparalleled gem!”
Such high praise was almost unheard of. Murmurs of skepticism started to ripple
through the crowd below, “This has to be a publicity stunt, right? But even so, this
is a bit much.”
“Yeah, it's too far-fetched. We've never even heard of Mrs. Delaney’s work
before, and suddenly this painting pops up as a one—of—a—kind masterpiece?”
Mrs. Collins, undeterred, asked directly, “So, what do you reckon this painting is
worth?”
Ballaster shook his head, “This painting captures a desolation and despair that
isn't easily replicated. It's not something that can be measured in terms of
money.”
Laurinda burst into laughter at this, “You're talking nonsense. Let me tell you, I
know my daughter-in-law, and if her painting fetches a hundred bucks, that'd be
a miracle! Where did you come from, spouting such nonsense?” As the crowd's
confusion deepened, Mrs. Collins hastily introduced him, “Ladies and gentlemen,
this is B
Aster
Chapter 139
hour. The 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 the deal
with Sanderson, sneering, “A man whose wife is vain and fraudulent casts doubt
on his own character,”
The deal was dead in the water.
Sanderson, mocked and livid, swallowed his anger. He denied any impact when
Lorna asked, not wishing to burden her with guilt.
And now, with the Millers seated behind him, as Fanny's painting neared an
unsold fate, they jeered, “Mr. Delaney, this is quite embarrassing, isn't it? Don't
tell me, this is another actor you've hired?”
Laurinda 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.”
Rachel chuckled, “Well, Mom, they must be running low on funds. These charity
galas are for the ladies to show off their own treasures. I bet Lorna didn't have
the heart to part with the jewelry my brother bought her.”
But as Ballaster’s voice rang out with “Hold on a moment!” and he approached
the stage, the Millers laughed anew, “Mr. Delaney, are you sure this isn't another
stooge you've arranged?”
a sense
of
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
In the midst of the whispers and the
sneers, Ballaster, standing before
’ iar . y
Lorna's painting, felt a vindication
wash over him. This was no sham,
no act of vanity. It was art, pure and
simple, and it deserved its due
recognition. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
Laurinda snorted derisively,
« : ) p
Obviously, she's broke and doesn't
know the first thing about making
f oe
money. She's been living off
, : )
Sanderson's dime, hasn't she? But
’ : ,
what's this now? Who's the old guy
taking the stage? The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
As 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
masters, a truly unparalleled gem!”
Such high praise was almost unheard of. Murmurs of skepticism started to ripple
through the crowd below, “This has to be a publicity stunt, right? But even so, this
is a bit much.”
“Yeah, it's too far-fetched. We've never even heard of Mrs. Delaney’s work
before, and suddenly this painting pops up as a one—of—a—kind masterpiece?”
Mrs. Collins, undeterred, asked directly, “So, what do you reckon this painting is
worth?”
Ballaster shook his head, “This painting captures a desolation and despair that
isn't easily replicated. It's not something that can be measured in terms of
money.”
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
Laurinda burst into laughter at this,
I , :
You're talking nonsense. Let me tell
you, I know my daughter-in-law, and
if her painting fetches a hundred
) 5 3
bucks, that'd be a miracle! Where did
you come from, spouting such
” ) :
nonsense?” As the crowd's confusion
deepened, Mrs. Collins hastily
3 5 “ 3
introduced him, “Ladies and
IE ”
gentlemen, this is B. Aster.” The
content is on Novelxo.org! Read
the latest chapter there!
Chapter 140
1. Aster?