After a sleepless night and enduring the tedious hair and makeup session, Ariana felt her head get heavy. Unintentionally, she fell asleep in her chair.

Upon waking, she noticed the room was unusually quiet, likely because the styling session had ended.

She intended to check the time but found herself on a sofa, covered with a light blanket.

Bennett was casually flipping through a magazine, sitting across from her. He glanced up when he heard her move.

“You're finally awake," Bennett said, putting the magazine down and standing up. “Let's head to the banquet now."

"Okay," Ariana replied, getting up to follow him.

"Hold on." Bennett stopped her before she could leave. "Your hair got messy while you were asleep. Let me tidy it up for you."

Ariana was taken aback, stepping back and declining, "No, I'll manage it myself—"

"You seem to forget your current situation again," Bennett interjected, moving closer and gesturing for her to sit. "You don't have the privilege to decline me, not in any matter."

Bennett began tidying her hair without waiting for her reply.

His actions were skilled, and his manner was unexpectedly gentle, showing genuine kindness, unlike his manipulative behavior before.

Ariana was impressed by his skill. “You're really good at this, aren't you?"

"Indeed," Bennett replied, continuing. "I used to style my mother's hair when she was alive."

His eyes softened as he mentioned his mother, striking a chord with Ariana.

Ariana hadn't anticipated Bennett opening up, so she stayed quiet.

But Bennett continued, “I am technically an illegitimate child. My mother, a modest village girl, captured attention on her first day at high school in the city because of her beauty. My father, already wed with multiple mistresses, instantly fell for her and forced her into a relationship. This disrupted her education and fractured her family, and she was still underage when I was born."

Bennett paused, his expression darkening. "I am the youngest child of my father, with my eldest brother already an adult when I was born. When I turned twelve, my father decided to let his children compete for his legacy, believing it would uncover the most worthy. I found it cruel and refused to participate in harming my family, but seeing my mother die due to their power struggles, I realized what I had to do. That was when I resolved to kill all my siblings."

Despite being familiar with dramatic stories, Ariana was taken aback by Bennett's past.

While she had experienced a lot, Ariana couldn't help but feel for Bennett's ordeal.

Noticing Bennett's sad expression in the mirror, Ariana maintained her composure and said, "You must be missing your mother deeply, don't you?"