Chapter 698 Bianca Rayne's Husband
The sun was setting.
Luke drove a fishing boat on the surface of the sea. From afar, he could see a luxury cruise ship.
The cruise ship was brilliantly lit. There was a party going on.
He had been to such occasions before. He knew that people from the upper layers of society loved to host tacky events like
those to flaunt their family's wealth.
He narrowed his gaze and thought of an idea.
Instantly, he abandoned the fishing boat, dove into the sea elegantly like a swordfish, and swam toward the cruise ship...
In the VIP cabin of the cruise ship.
A young and handsome man was dressed in the classic English style. His skin was more delicate than a female, and his deep
blue eyes and sculpted mixed-blood features inspired romance.
He stood tall and straight like a noble in front of the window, looking down at the hall while slightly frowning.
He seemed like a gentleman, but his thin lips were slightly pressed together in disapproval.
In front of him was Shanna, a sweet, charming, and graceful blond-haired beauty. She also had deep blue eyes.
She pointed at the food in front of her and said fawningly, "Anand, I’ve made French toast, Cornish pie, and walnut tarts for you...
Please try them and let me know how it tastes."
Shanna paused, seeing that Anand did not move. She pointed at another plate and said, "I've heard from Mdm. Mahachitra that
you love pasteis de nata, so I baked some for you."
Shanna was French, but she spoke impeccable English because she loved the culture.
Anand glanced at the golden-yellow custard tarts and prepared to sit down. Shanna instantly pulled a chair for him.
Very few people know that Anand was the son of the richest person in India. Despite his elevated social status, he preferred
working among the regular employees in a company to experience so-called "normal life."
Shanna's family were generational friends with Anand's. However, their wealth or influence was far inferior to Anand's family.
That was why Shanna's mother had taught her since young that she should try to capture Anand's heart so that she could
eventually marry him and become the future Mrs. Mahachitra.
Since she was a little girl, Shanna's mother had hired the best culture and etiquette tutors for her. Even after she had a mind of
her own, all she thought was how to get on Anand's good side.
The party on the cruise ship was supposed to pave the way for their eventual engagement.
Their parents left them in the VIP cabin in hopes that they would get to know each other better. Shanna was obviously overjoyed,
but Anand thought that it was all very troublesome.
He had always treated Shanna as a younger sister and nothing more. He had told her that repeatedly; not only did she not listen,
but she intensified her advances toward him. Anand was frustrated, but he did not know how to utterly discourage her.
"I don't think that we're a match, Shanna. Faris is better. He..."
Faris was Anand's cousin. He had been trying to court Shanna and had been hounding her incessantly.
Shanna interjected before Anand could finish his sentence. "You don't like these, Anand? I'll prepare something else for you."
"It's fine, Shanna. You did a great job." Anand looked helplessly at the delicate desserts on the table.
They were even more well-made than those found in dessert cafes. Anand could tell that Shanna had spent a lot of effort in
perfecting them.
However, he was not interested in tasting them.
Despite having left A City for a long time, his heart was still attached to the beautiful woman he met in that city - Bianca Rayne, i
Bianca was an enigma to him. She was elegant, pure, and seemingly frail and delicate like a flower in a greenhouse. However,
when it came to working, she became assertive and aggressive like a totally different person. She was unforgettable.
Anand was frustrated when he remembered that Bianca was already married to another man and even bore children with him.
His love could not bloom. It had already died when the seed was planted in the soil.
He wondered how that woman was doing.
After thinking for a while, Anand decided to lay the cards on the table with Shanna. "Shanna, I'd rather not continue to deceive
you, but I've always treated you as a little sister and not a lover. Even if we marry each other, we will not find any bliss. Would
you rather devote the rest of your life to a man who doesn't love you? Moreover... I already have a girl I like, and she has
promised that she will marry me. Please don't waste any more time on me. You won't find the happiness that you're looking for."
Anand lied to Shanna. The woman he loved was already married with children, and she did not like him at all. However, that was
the only way to get Shanna to give up on him.
"No! That's impossible. You must be lying to me. That can't be true..." Shanna's delicate face turned pale.
She shook her head hard as tears fell from her eyes.
She wanted to flip the table and cry hysterically, but she did not do so because of her upbringing.
Her fists were clenched tight. Suddenly, she turned around and ran out of the room while crying...
Anand sighed as he watched her leave.
Shanna was a good girl. It was perhaps best for her that she gave up on him today. Otherwise, maintaining the lie would only
cause more harm.
Little did he know that those careless words nearly put Bianca in a deadly peril someday in the future.
Anand might have hurt Shanna, but he had finally told Shanna the truth he held in his heart for so long. That made him feel very
relieved, and he was in the mood to drink.
He had opened a bottle of brandy when he heard something strange behind him. It was a slight sound, but Anand managed to
discern it.
"Who..." He was about to turn around when he suddenly froze. Someone had covered his mouth tightly and restrained him with
an arm as strong as steel.
"Shut up!" The person had tried to lower his voice, but Anand could tell that it was a male.
Anand opened his eyes wide and struggled.
He managed to glance at the man with the corner of his eyes, which made him utterly shocked!
'Luke Crawford?
'... Bianca Rayne's husband!
'Why is he suddenly on the cruise ship?
'Also, why would that incredibly wealthy man want to take me hostage?'