Claudia nodded absentmindedly as she sipped from her cup. She suddenly realized that Bennett had been bathing for almost an hour.

Had he fallen asleep in the bathroom?

It was getting cold. He would catch a cold if he fell asleep in the bathroom.

With the thought of Bennett getting sick, she quickly put down the cup and dashed upstairs.

Meanwhile, Bennett had just stepped out of the shower and was on a call.

Breck was on the other line.

Today marked Bennett's thirty-first birthday, and Breck wasted no time inviting him to have fun tonight.

Leaning against the sofa, Bennett activated the hands-free mode on his phone, placing it on the table.

Breck's invitation was met with a swift and resolute "No" from Bennett, a testament to his commitment to marital life.

“Oh, that's right. I forgot that you're married. Claudia will celebrate it with you. How did she celebrate your birthday for the first time? Tell me so I can envy you."

For Bennett, who hadn't even received so much as a simple “Happy Birthday" from Claudia, the question left him momentarily speechless.

After a brief pause, he decided to cut the conversation short. "I don't want to talk with you anymore."

Sensing Bennett's discomfort, Breck persisted, “Is it because Claudia doesn't know it's your birthday?"

Breck couldn't resist gloating because he seemed to have guessed the truth and hit a raw nerve. “But it's normal. After all, you have been married for a little over six months. It's reasonable that Claudia doesn't know when it is."

Unwilling to entertain further speculation, Bennett abruptly picked up the phone and hung up.

The persistent friend had managed to get on his nerves.

Even after the phone call ended, the words uttered by Breck continued to weigh on Bennett's heart.

Bennett was on the verge of heading downstairs, but then he just wasn't feeling it anymore.

He closed his eyes, pondering in thoughts, and plopped down on the couch.

ALL of a sudden, the door swung open and Claudia spotted him sitting like that.

Bennett was leaning against the sofa, his head slightly raised and eyes closed, seeming to be asleep.

At this time, Bennett seemed aloof like he didn't want anyone getting closer. Even as she sneaked glances at him, a subtle distance lingered in her mind, making her hesitate to draw near him.

But that feeling only stuck around for a split second. What really got Claudia worried was that Bennett had just showered and fallen asleep on the couch in just a thin sweater. What if he caught a cold?

She intended to put a thin blanket on him but then she remembered what Marcia said. So, she just turned back and asked, plopping down next to him, "Bennett, you asleep?"