Sipping red wine, Zaria stared at Claudia in silence for a while before asking, "What are your hobbies, Claudia?"

Claudia grimaced, taken aback by that question. She had thought Zaria was going to berate her. What?

Did she hear this woman right?

Was she really just asked about her hobbies?

Was this how to confront a rival these days? What did her hobbies have to do with the matter on ground? Was this a trick?

Several confused and suspicious thoughts germinated in Claudia's mind. She sat up straight and said, "Cut the bullshit, Zaria. I don't have time to waste here."

Why was Zaria beating about the bush now? Didn't she purposely bring Claudia out here to warn her harshly?

There was no need for any dilly-dallying or pretense. After all, whatever happened would stay between them since they were all alone now.

Was going around in circles a thing for these rich heiress? Or did Zaria just have something else up her sleeves?

Hearing her words, Zaria pursed her lips and said, “In that case, I will get right to it. Why did you marry Bennett?"

Now, she was talking!

They were getting somewhere.

With a sneer, Claudia uttered, "I find your question very strange, indeed. Why else do people get married? I love Bennett, so I married him."

What was Zaria's deal? Why wasn't she flaring up as expected?

Besides, couldn't she ask more complicated and aggressive questions? Like, what would it take her to make Claudia Leave Bennett?

As Claudia asked many questions inwardly, Zaria wagged her finger and said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk! Bennett could have forced you into it."

What kind of rival was Zaria? Why wasn't she sticking to the script? Claudia struggled to remain calm. With a frown, she said, "You have gotten this all wrong. Forced marriages are a thing of the past. This is the 21st century. Get with the program, will you?"

Zaria sputtered a laugh and sucked her teeth again.

“For your information, my cousin was forced into marriage recently." Claudia almost stunned for a second and nearly slipped up.

“Oh, your cousin is a weakling then."

Zaria said nothing to that, but she sharply turned to look at Claudia. Her stare made Claudia uncomfortable. She avoided her eyes while wondering what this woman was up to. Zaria didn't behave like the female antagonists in dramas and novels. She wasn't coming at her the way she expected.

If she wasn't sure that this was her first time meeting Zaria, she could have sworn that Zaria liked her and not Bennett.

It took a good minute before Zaria finally stopped staring. She circled her fingers on the rim of her wineglass before commenting, “It seems you indeed got married to Bennett willingly.”

“Yes, got a problem with that?"