Chapter 80

Marcus Hill pulled a cigarette from the pack.

He lit it and took a deep drag.

He then offered the pack to Adrian Sinclair.

Adrian raised a hand to decline. "I quit."

His gaze rested calmly on Marcus's face. "So you came to San Francisco to escape an arranged marriage?"

Marcus awkwardly withdrew his hand and put the cigarette back.

He gave a self-mocking smile. "I don't like marriages that are decided for me."

"If possible, I'd rather meet the person I want to spend my life with on my own."

Even though he knew the hope was slim, he stubbornly believed in love.

A marriage of convenience was never the future he wanted.

Smoke curled between them.

Adrian's voice was low. "It's useless."

"For people like us, marriage is never our own decision."

"In the face of family interests, personal feelings mean nothing."

Marcus's fingers holding the cigarette paused. "What about you? Will you accept your family's arrangement?"

Adrian's eyes darkened, his emotions unreadable.

But Marcus caught a flash of loneliness in his eyes.

Remembering the phone call earlier, Marcus pressed further. "The arranged marriage your grandpa set up for you, is it that Miss Chloe from the phone? Will you marry her?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

He picked up his wine glass, swirled it gently, and took a sip before speaking slowly. "I think... I will marry the person I love."

The person he loves?

Marcus immediately perked up.

He instantly thought of Anna Ross.

A teasing smile spread across his face. "You're not talking about Anna Ross, are you?"

No wonder Adrian was so unusually attentive to that girl. So he had feelings for her.

"You just denied it earlier! If you like her, go for it!"

"And she is really beautiful. I haven't seen a girl that stunning in years. She suits you well."

Marcus was getting carried away, completely missing the sudden change in Adrian's expression.

Adrian shot him a cold glance, his gaze terrifyingly intense. "Can't all this food shut you up?"

"If you mention this again, I won't mind going back to New York to help finalize your marriage arrangements."

Marcus immediately fell silent.

He knew Adrian too well; his word was law.

If Adrian really got involved in his marriage plans, there would be no escape.

。。。。。。。。

Anna Ross walked out of the private room, her heart light with joy.

She no longer had to worry about Howard Lowell targeting her mother.

Moving to New York would also give her more freedom.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice the server approaching with a bowl of soup.

The server was also looking down, checking the table number, and didn't see her coming.

"Ah!"

Anna gasped in shock.

A searing pain shot through the back of her hand.

The scalding hot soup had spilled all over it.