CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: WEDDING ON THE CRUISE SHIP

Shane hadn’t even had a chance to sit down when Faye came over, called him aside, and spoke a few words to him. Shane then turned to Audrey and said, "You stay here, I’ll come find you in a bit."

Audrey nodded and glanced at Lan Irving, who stood beside Faye.

This time, Lan Irving clearly attended as Faye’s female companion. Audrey always found it strange, as the relationship between Lan and Faye seemed like that of a couple, yet it appeared neither had any romantic interest in the other.

Faye was fine; he was indulgent, with a new woman each day, but that had nothing to do with Audrey.

It was Lan Irving who seemed honest and straightforward, yet subtly and openly, he seemed to be trying to undermine her.

While chatting in the restaurant, Audrey noticed quite a few people she knew had come this time.

Vincent Warner and Chloe Swift had also arrived, and they seemed to get along well in front of others.

If it weren’t for Chloe Swift having said those things to Audrey, she might not have been able to tell that Vincent Warner didn’t love Chloe.

Clarissa Morgan, the star of this event, had yet to make an appearance.

"Audrey, does your third brother have a girlfriend? Can you introduce us?" Barry Barrett asked slyly, holding Audrey’s arm.

Audrey snapped back to reality and replied with a smile, "My third brother is single right now, but he already has someone in his heart."

Barry was slightly surprised, "There’s a girl even your third brother can’t win over?"

"It’s not that he can’t win her over; it’s that he can’t find her. Anyway, I heard a few years back that my third brother has been looking for a girl, but there’s been no news since."

"There’s no such thing as an impossible task, only quitting too soon. Do you think there’s a chance for me if I take advantage now?"

Seraphina Vaughn said unceremoniously, "Not a ghost of a chance. The next time there’s an event like this, I bet they won’t even want to bring you along."

Upon hearing Seraphina say "ghost," Flora Lane suddenly suggested, "Why don’t we tell ghost stories?"

Barry Barrett: "Sure, sure!"

Seraphina Vaughn: "Boring."

Audrey was both curious and scared, timidly asking, "What kind of ghost stories?"

Flora cleared her throat and began, "It’s said that a few years ago, a young couple boarded a boat for their honeymoon, just like us now. At first, everything was fine, but once night fell, the wife heard knocking outside their room. Her husband snored away and wouldn’t wake up, and the knocking continued. She got out of bed and asked through the door, ’Who is it?’ There was no response, and the knocking stopped."

"And then?"

"The wife felt uneasy. Just as she was about to get back under the covers and continue sleeping, she suddenly saw two silhouettes, a man and a woman, outside the room’s window, with their backs to her, seemingly leaning against the rail chatting. At first, she didn’t react, but as she was about to close her eyes and sleep, she suddenly remembered..."

Flora deliberately paused dramatically, her eyes scanning the group, while Audrey clung onto Seraphina’s arm, already curled up in fear.

Barry Barrett quickly urged, "What did she remember? Hurry up and tell us!"

Only then did Flora continue, "There was no corridor outside the room she was in; outside the window was the sea! Those two people..."

Audrey whispered, "Were they ghosts?"

Flora nodded earnestly, "It’s said that there was a young couple who encountered a shipwreck during their honeymoon, but their souls are still floating at sea. When people pass through that area, they might see them! Sometimes, they even pull newlywed couples to join them!"

Audrey felt a chill down her spine, and suddenly something cold tapped her on her shoulder...

"Ah!" she screamed, turning her head to see Shane standing behind her, frowning, "What guilty thing have you done to be this jumpy?"

"You scared me to death!"

"Come with me."

Still shaken, Audrey stood up, took Shane’s arm, and followed him away. "What’s up?"

He didn’t answer, and Audrey didn’t ask further.

Shane led her to an elderly man with graying hair and introduced her with a smile, "Grandfather Sterling, this is my wife, Audrey."

Grandfather Sterling smiled, sizing up Audrey, and asked, "Is this the young girl from The Suttons?"

"Grandfather, you know me?"

"I used to work alongside your grandfather when we were young. That old fellow’s enjoying life now, and here I am, still unable to let go at my age."

As he spoke, Quentin Sterling and Clarissa Morgan approached.

Quentin looked around Shane’s age, striking in appearance, with metal-rimmed glasses, and appeared courteous and polite.

Shane and Quentin shook hands, and Quentin said with a smile, "Clarissa told me you both went to the same school."

Clarissa cheerfully introduced, "Back then, Shane was quite the figure in our school; hardly anyone didn’t know him."

Shane just smiled faintly without responding, while Audrey felt that Quentin seemed unaware of Clarissa and Shane’s past, likely still kept in the dark by Clarissa.

Grandfather Sterling said, "Shane’s own company has gone public. Quentin, you should get some pointers from Shane whenever you have time."

Quentin smiled modestly, "There’s indeed a lot I can learn from Shane."

"Sister, since the men are discussing work we can’t understand, why don’t we go have some fun?" Clarissa came over and linked arms with Audrey.

Shane glanced down at Audrey, who looked at him hesitantly, clearly not wanting to chat with Clarissa. Shane didn’t want her to have too much interaction with Clarissa either, so he said, "Audrey’s a bit seasick, so I plan to take her back to rest first. You guys must have a lot to handle with tomorrow’s wedding, so we won’t disturb you further."

Quentin nodded, "If there’s anything lacking in hospitality, I hope Third Young Master Warner won’t mind."

Shane smiled and nodded, then wrapped his arm around Audrey and left.

The two of them had a bite to eat downstairs before heading back to their room.

The cruise ship set sail at eight. After her bath, Audrey, with her hair still slightly damp, wrapped in a robe, lay on the sofa by the window, watching as the ship slowly left the pier.

The night sky was an inky blue, as was the sea, making everything seem deeper.

"Click—"

The bathroom door opened.

Audrey turned her head and saw Shane, wrapped only in a towel from the waist down, walking out from inside.

She couldn’t help but sneak a glance at his upper body’s muscle lines, and her mind was at a loss for words, with only two left: perfect.

Shane reached for his robe on the bed and glanced at Audrey as he put it on.

As their eyes met, Audrey jolted as if electrocuted, then pretended to naturally turn her head to look out the window, exclaiming, "The sea view is so beautiful~"

Shane put on his robe, untied the towel around his waist, tied the robe’s belt, and approached her from behind, looking out the window and commenting, "What do you see that’s so beautiful in this pitch darkness?"