Finally, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Claudia, I didn't want to wake you, but your father's here. Are you sure you don't want to get up and go downstairs to see him?"

Claudia was caught off guard when she heard his words and shifted her focus. "My dad is here?"

Her eyes opened wide as she forgot that she had been pretending to be asleep moments before.

As she met Bennett's smiling eyes, Claudia suddenly remembered her ruse and felt a deep blush creeping up her cheeks.

She instinctively reached for the quilt to cover herself, but Bennett stopped her. "Your dad has been sitting downstairs for almost an hour!"

Claudia quickly released the quilt from her grasp and sat up from the bed, her voice slightly flustered. "I...I'm going to freshen up!"

Then she ran into the bathroom in her slippers.

As Bennett watched her retreat, a smile deepened in his eyes, amused by her rabbit-like movements.

He stood up, walked to the bathroom door, and gently knocked on it.

"I'm going downstairs to play chess with him."

Claudia was brushing her teeth when she heard his words. She replied vaguely, "Okay!"

As Claudia washed her face, she looked at herself in the mirror.

Suddenly, she remembered the passionate scenes from last night. Her face flushed instantly. She grabbed a washcloth and hurriedly left the bathroom.

Bennett was no longer in the room. She applied simple makeup and went downstairs after changing her clothes.

Upon descending, Claudia overheard Jace's voice.

She slowed down and walked over. "Dad."

On the table, there were chess pieces, and Bennett was engaged in a game with Jace.

Seeing her approaching, he naturally reached out, pulled her to sit beside him, and handed her a glass of warm water. "Would you like to have breakfast here?"

Seeing his daughter and son-in-law like this, Jace smiled contentedly.

He was pleased to see how well Bennett treated his daughter.

“It's okay, you two continue. I'm going to have breakfast first,"

Claudia said, shaking her head.

Jace smiled and remarked, “Go ahead and try not to stay up so late too often."

Hearing Jace's words, Claudia choked on the water and coughed.