Given their refusal to rectify the situation, Claudia felt her stern stance was justified.

“Do you want my help, Claudia?"

Upon hearing Bennett's offer, Claudia shook her head and said, “It might not look good if you step in.”

It would be easy to be criticized by others.

With a laid-back posture on the sofa, Bennett said casually, "So what if they disapprove? They'll just have to deal with it."

Though Bennett could be prideful, he seldom show it.

In their nearly six months together, Claudia had never heard Bennett speak with such arrogance.

She gazed into his eyes and noticed a hint of mischief.

She blinked her eyes and felt a little regretful.

"I wish I'd met you sooner."

In this way, she could have seen how arrogant Bennett was when he was young.

Bennett offered her a soft smile but remained silent.

"Is something wrong?" Claudia inquired, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Did she say something wrong?

Seeing that she looked away, he asked calmly, "Why?"

Claudia, a bit flustered, admitted, "I wondered if you were a bit of a rebel back in the day."

Observing her blush, Bennett pulled her close, leaned in, and planted a kiss, murmuring, "Yes, I was."

She had witnessed traces of it already.

Wrapped in his warmth, a rush of heat swept through Claudia.

The pose was quite romantic, causing Claudia's ears to turn gradually red, followed by her cheeks.

As he gazed at the woman he held close, Bennett's eyes took on a deeper shade, his breathing growing heavier. In a whispered rasp, he questioned, "Feeling sleepy?"

Claudia didn't understand why he asked that; it wasn't bedtime yet.

Without much thought, she shook her head and responded, “It's still early."

She didn't anticipate that when she lifted her head to meet his eyes, the intense desire in his gaze would send shivers through her heart.