She couldn't help but groan.

Yet, in that moment, Bennett gently released her. Caught off guard, she brushed against his neck, much like a kitten seeking comfort.

With the surging lust rolling in his deep eyes, Bennett swallowed hard and raised the back of her head.

"Cece, I want to make love with you."

Hearing that, she blushed.

The room was filled with silence. Bennett waited in anticipation, but his longing became too intense. He turned his head and kissed her face, as if he was testing her, or as if he was imploring.

"Claudia?"

However, Claudia, who had been rubbing against him moments ago, didn't respond or move. She had been short of breath earlier, but now she lay still and quiet.

"Cece?"

As Bennett laid her on the bed, he realized Claudia had drifted into sleep.

He gazed tenderly at the resting figure before him, chuckling softly at her exhaustion. Carefully, he adjusted the pillow beneath her head and draped a thin blanket over her.

It was evident that Claudia was truly exhausted. As the blanket covered her, she reached out to pull it up and settled back into sleep.

Bennett sat on the bed, watching her for a bit, ensuring she was fast asleep. Once content, he switched off the lights.

The room fell into darkness. Familiar with the room's layout, he made his way to the sofa in the living area and seated himself.

Retrieving his phone, he opened the photo album.

There it was, the only picture of him and his mother. Every other memory had been erased by Bertha before she passed away.

Perhaps she genuinely wished not to leave anything behind for him, so she erased everything that could be removed.

This single photo had been unearthed from a digital camera, five years after her passing.

Even after all these years, Bennett still couldn't understand why Bertha had erased everything related to her.

To him, this lone photograph was the only thing tied to his mother.

It was completely ridiculous.

Their mother-son relationship was quite good, and they got along harmoniously.

She had been a kind-hearted mother, forever patient and understanding.

In his younger days, she'd often joke about his stoic nature, wondering aloud about the kind of wife he'd end up with, given his icy demeanor.