He glanced at the closed bathroom door, then shifted his gaze and walked to the bedside table with water.

Although Claudia couldn't hold her liquor well, she wouldn't be intoxicated from half a glass of a cocktail.

At Breck's birthday gathering, the drinks were all about taste, not high alcohol content.

She'd only had half a glass, and the alcohol had taken effect slowly on the way back home. However, after the shower, she was much more sober.

When Claudia stepped out of the bathroom, her mind had cleared.

Bennett stood on the balcony, feeling the breeze. On seeing her, he closed the window and drew the curtains with the remote control before heading into the bathroom.

Claudia sat before the dressing table and saw what Bennett had done in the reflection of the mirror. She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard his footsteps fade into the bathroom. Unscrewing the lid of the lotion, she quickly completed her skincare routine, then scrambled into bed, pulling the quilt over herself.

When Bennett came out, he saw Claudia lying quietly in the bed.

She appeared to be sleeping, but Bennett knew she never slept lying on her back.

Since she was lying in that position, he assumed she must be thinking about something.

He walked over, turning off the light and leaving a nightlight on.

The night light cast a warm, soft yellow glow that illuminated the room just enough to make out the surroundings.

When the mattress dipped on one side, Claudia couldn't help but open her eyes. She turned to look at Bennett.

She had been lying in the bed for more than ten minutes, and all she could think about was the ridiculous thought when she hugged him downstairs.

Claudia even doubted whether Breck had asked someone to give her the high-alcoholic wine.

Why else would she be fixated on those thoughts?

She found it impossible to calm herself down.

Claudia's lovely eyes glistened in the warm glow of the night lamp as her slightly moist eyelids reflected some of the light.

Bennett felt a blaze rise in his chest at the sight of her intense gaze, but his expression betrayed nothing. He simply tucked her closer to him and whispered, "It's time for sleep, Claudia."

His voice was strangely low and hypnotic, and Claudia's composure wavered on the verge of breaking.

She bit her lower lip in an effort to restrain her desire. However, it was evidently pointless.

Claudia reached out and tugged at the hem of his shirt. "Bennett?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have to get up early tomorrow?"