Claudia nodded, retrieving her phone and absentmindedly fiddled with the piano keys, a worried look in her eyes.

“I understand someone paid you a visit today?"

Looking towards Bennett, Claudia briefly narrated the day's events. Finally, noticing Bennett's silence, she cautiously queried, “Did I act too inconsiderately?”

Bennett, raising an eyebrow, loosened the top button of his shirt, reassuring her, “No, it's all good."

Claudia's eyes were involuntarily drawn to his Adam's apple once more. After a few seconds, though, she noticed something wrong. Why was the scratch mark on his neck now showing?

Bennett was undoing the second button, and the scratch mark stood out prominently against his silky-smooth skin.

Claudia tried to divert her gaze, fighting the urge to fixate on the red mark. Yet the sight of Bennett's marked skin kept conjuring images of the previous night, impossible to ignore.

As he fiddled with the second button, she finally couldn't resist questioning, “Didn't I cover the scratch on your neck with cosmetics this morning?"

Bennett glanced at the red mark adorning his left neck before looking at her nonchalantly. “I perspired, causing the foundation and concealer to smudge during the morning.”

“What ?"

Her concealer, foundation and loose powder were all waterproof.

What was happening here?

Frankly, Claudia found it hard to swallow this explanation

Bennett cast her a casual glance, inquiring, "Any issues?”

“None at all. I’m just lamenting over the poor performance of my makeup products."

“Well, consider not using them next time." ©

Bennett's lack of guilt baffled Claudia, and she felt too mortified to pry further. Because she knew, if she persisted, the conversation would inevitably steer towards last night's incident.

Bennett sprawled on the white sofa, reclining in a casual pose. He looked at Claudia and asked nonchalantly, "Why didn't you accept the check she offered you?"

Caught off guard, Claudia stuttered, “I... Am I allowed to?"

A smirk played on Bennett's lips. “Why would you decline a gift from your mother-in-law? She offered you money with no strings attached. What's the cause for refusal?"