Once Jolie departed, Claudia relocated to the piano room. After a few minutes of piano playing, she Lost interest. She reached for her phone and texted Aurora, "A hundred million dollars just slipped through my fingers!"

Aurora responded with a rapid succession of three question marks. "Tell me more details!"

Claudia clarified, "Moments ago, Bennett's stepmother proposed a deal: a divorce from Bennett within three months in exchange for a hundred million dollars."

“Oh, my God! Bennett's stepmother sure knows how to throw money around!" Aurora was flabbergasted.

Claudia retorted, "Indeed, she does."

Aurora advised, "Don't worry. Your husband is worth tens of billions of dollars. One hundred million dollars is nothing to him!"

Claudia responded, feeling defeated, “That's his fortune, not mine!" Aurora was stunned by her response.

“I've noticed that ever since you left that scumbag Anthony, you've been much more sensible!"

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of Claudia's mouth.

“Guess I've learned from past mistakes."

Claudia didn't feel embarrassed about her past with Anthony, only regretful.

Thus, she wasn't fazed when her friend brought it up.

Aurora proposed, "What about asking Bennett to refund that hundred million?"

Claudia rolled her eyes at the ridiculous proposal.

“Stop dreaming!" Aurora countered calmly, "If you don't pop the question, how will you ever know his response?”

Just as Claudia was about to retort, there was a sudden knock at the door. Startled, her phone slipped from her hand and hit the piano keys.

“May I enter?"

"Absolutely!"

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.