Love or Die CEO’s Daily Dose of Swoon

Chapter 127

Cordelia stood frozen, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face as she clutched her phone, staring at the six digital tickets on the screen. A thought raced through her mind were these really worth $50,0007

She wandered into the living room, where a few people turned their heads in unison towards her.

Laurinda snorted through her nose, making no move to greet her

Steward, on the other hand, smiled warmly. “Hey Lia, how was school today? Tiring?”

Cordelia didn’t intend to engage with her grandmother or Rachel, but she couldn’t ignore her granddad’s friendly inquiry.

She shook her head. “Not really.”

Having said that, she dropped her by the couch and took a seat next to Lorna.

Rachel

continued, addressing Lorna, “Lorna, help us out, will you? Here’s the ticket.”

With that, she tried to press the ticket into Lorna’s hand, but Lorna pushed it back, steadfast in her refusal. “Really, I can’t. Lia and Everard are just dating; it wouldn’t be right to make Everard bow his head.”

Seeing Lorna’s resistance, Rachel turned to Cordelia. “Lia, what do you think? Your mom would love this art show. If you could just swallow your pride a bit and get Calvert to add Juliana on Facebook, I will give her the ticket! You’re such a good daughter, surely you wouldn’t want to disappoint your mom, right?”

Lorna frowned. “Rachel, don’t talk nonsense. I’m not interested in the art show!”

As she attempted to give the ticket back to Rachel, Cordelia’s leisurely voice chimed in, “Is this ticket really worth 5 grand?”

Lorna blinked in surprise.

Rachel’s face lit up. “Yes, and you can’t just buy them, you need connections. I knew you’d care about your mom. She’s just being stubborn because she doesn’t want to put you on the spot. Isn’t it worth just a little pride to make her happy?”

Cordelia let out a nonchalant “Oh,” then turned to Lorna, “Mom,

let’s g

go

Lorna was visibly touched but still hesitated. “Lia, I appreciate what you’re doing, but slines just shouldn’t be crossed.”

Lorna already saw Everard as a son–in–law and was about to say more when Cordelia turned to Mathilda. “Grandma, would you like to go?”

Mathilda was taken aback, glancing at Laurinda and Rachel before coughing. “I… L…”

Before she could finish, Laurinda cut her off. “Her? Why should she go? Does she have the money or the ticket? Pfft, I heard someone saying they wouldn’t spend my son’s money and would rather use their own pension.”

Mathilda’s frown deepened. She took a deep breath to calm herself. “Lia, I’m not interested in watercolors. I won’t go.”

Laurinda scoffed “I heard you were quite interested. Is it the money that you worry about?”

Mathilda’s face tightened.

Beside her, Lorna clenched her fists.

Grace and virtue were her hallmarks. Having spent a lifettrying to be the picture of serenity, she now realized how humiliating the lack of financial independence could be

If she could earn her own money, why would she let her mother be insulted this way?

Seeing Lorna’s distressed face, Laurinda grew more smug “Dear, shall I lend you smoney? I’m not like you

my money is what my son earned, rightfully shared with me…”

As Laurinda continued, Lorna’s quilt grew, and just then, Cordelia’s cool voice rose again. “Grandma, il treat you”

Silence enveloped the living room

Laurinda huffed, “You’re treating? Is it not your dad’s money you’re spending? Do you have your own

Eventually.L money?”

Rachel giggled behind her hand “Mom, even money can’t buy these tickets; you need the right connections”

Before Laurinda could speak, Cordelia added, “I have tickets.”

She lifted her phone, informing Lorna, “I have six of them.”

The room fell into silence once more.

After a moment, Lorna was astounded. “Lia, where did you get these?”

Cordelia pondered briefly before replying, “A friend gave them to me.”

Lorna pressed, ‘Which friend? How do you know them?”

Cordelia explained with her phone in hand, “Just through… online.”

Lorna interrupted in surprise, “An intefriend?”

Cordelia hesitated slightly. “…You could say that.”

Before Lorna could respond, Rachel laughed out loud. “Tickets to this art show are like gold dust, and someone just gave you six? Lia, you’ve been had. There are so many scams online. Lorna, you gotta keep an eye on Lia: pretty young girls can be easy targets.”

Lorna’s expression darkened. “Who’s being careless? What are you implying?”

Rachel shrugged innocently. “I didn’t say anything, don’t overthink it…

Lorna exploded, “Is itoverthinking, or are you insinuating something about Lia? Rachel, we don’t want you here. Please leave!”

The presence of these three had soured the atmosphere at home, and Lorna’s frustration had reached boiling point.

Laurinda, being Sanderson’s mother and an elder, couldn’t be dismissed, but what right did Rachel have to cause a scene in their home?

Rachel stood up, somewhat embarrassed. “Lomna, we’re all family here, you…

Lorna was resolute. If you don’t leave now, I’ll call security!”

Rachel’s face showed her discomfort. Accustomed to the decorum of high society, she wasn’t one for noisy confrontations. Realizing she had overstayed her welcome, she grasped the ticket and headed for the door “Fine, I’ll leave on my own.”

Steward, having botched the situation, also felt awkward remaining. He stood up and cleared his throat. “Ah, Lorna, I guess your mom and I will head out too.”

Lorna took a deep breath. “Sure, letwalk you out.”

Once Steward and company had left, Mathilda couldn’t help but complain. “I told you, Laurinda doesn’t mince words, but Steward, he’s the real sly one. Acts like such a good guy…”

She stopped mid–sentence when she caught sight of Cordelia. Her good upbringing made her swallow the rest of her words

Lorna looked at Cordelia with concern. “Lia, you can’t trust people online, you…

“He’s trustworthy.” Cordelia insisted. “He’s B. Aster.”

1. Aster…

Without an explanation from Cordelia, Lorna might have found the idea slightly credible

convinced she was being duped.

1. Aster was a busy man; how could he possibly have tfor online chats?

but now she was

Yet Cordelia seemed so sure, Lorna couldn’t outright dismiss her. In the end, she just said, “Alright, then tomorrow afternoon, let’s hit the art exhibit.”

Cordelia was too naive. Lorna decided she needed to accompany her daughter to face the inevitable disappointment, to help her see the reality of the deception.

That evening, Cordelia continued her painting lessons with Lorna. She was a quick study, grasping the techniques almost instantly. Before Lorna realized it, she had imparted all her tricks of the trade in one night.

The next day, Cordelia, carrying breakfast, walked into Midnight Scent. As she ate, her backpack accidentally tumbled to the floor, spilling its contents, including the bottle of medicine Louie had given her.

Before she could reach for it, Everard bent down and picked up the bottle, his expression pausing briefly, “What’s this?”

Chapter 128