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 ?"