The moment she finished speaking, his eyes snapped open with a lingering chill in them. He still had a hint of distance in his first glance.

Out of the blue, Claudia let out a gasp as she found herself embraced in Bennett's warm yet sturdy embrace.

He leaned in and began to kiss her lips a bit roughly, a sensation distinct from the kiss they shared over an hour ago.

In that moment, it seemed like Bennett just wanted to kiss her.

Swiftly, he pulled back his thin Lips and inquired, "Claudia, do you feel like you forgot something?"

Claudia's heart skipped a beat. She kind of felt like Bennett might have sensed something.

No way, she needed to calm down and not freak out!

She pouted her lips and put on an innocent act, mumbling, “What did I forget?"

Bennett gazed at her with his deep-set eyes.

Feeling a wave of nerves, Claudia felt the urge to avert her gaze but she knew he'd totally catch on if she did.

She had to hang in there. After three or four seconds, he eventually shifted his gaze and uttered, "Nothing."

He Lowered his eyes and she pondered whether it was her imagination, catching a glimpse of a fleeting hint of dissatisfaction in his gaze.

Why did it seem like Bennett was somewhat disappointed in her?

Did she actually forget something important?

Gasping in her mind, Claudia doubted herself but she couldn't think of anything she had messed up.

Was there anything big other than his birthday?

Bennett noticed her deep in thought, her brow furrowed, which made him even more convinced that she truly had no clue about his birthday.

After a while, he started feeling sorry for her, seeing her go through it in her mind like that.

Well, he never mentioned it to her before.

Bennett comforted her by gently rubbing her back and then asked, “Is dinner ready?"

His words snapped Claudia back from her thoughts. "Yeah, Marcia just said that dinner would be ready in ten minutes."

"Ten minutes have passed already, right?" he said, slightly raising his eyebrow with a smile.

Blushing and a bit embarrassed, Claudia mumbled, “Let's go grab some dinner."

Getting up, she reached out her hand to him.