You could create another disk for Storage class.
In config/filesystems.php in the disks array add your desired folder. The public folder in this case.
'disks' => [
'local' => [
'driver' => 'local',
'root' => storage_path().'/app',
],
'public' => [
'driver' => 'local',
'root' => public_path(),
],
's3' => '....'
Then you can use Storage class to work within your public folder in the following way:
$exists = Storage::disk('public')->exists('file.jpg');
The $exists variable will tell you if file.jpg exists inside the public folder because the Storage disk 'public' points to public folder of project.
You can use all the Storage methods from documentation, with your custom disk. Just add the disk('public') part.
Storage::disk('public')-> // any method you want from