Bennett's voice broke the silence, pulling Claudia back to reality. Pondering his question, she admitted, "I'm not sure. How Long do you think we should stay?"

She had no experience in this kind of thing.

“Maybe half an hour."

“Alright, we'll go with that."

Bennett remained silent.

Soon, the car pulled up in front of the hotel where Zaria had reserved two whole floors for her birthday celebration. Truly fitting for a young Lady of the Santiago family!

Exiting the car, Claudia joined Bennett, wisely taking his hand this time, and together they carried the gift inside.

They'd only taken a few steps when Zaria, elegantly dressed in a long champagne-colored gown, rushed over on her high heels.

“Miss Marshall, you've arrived!"

She was so happy that she ignored Bennett beside Claudia.

It was only after Bennett interjected, “Miss Santiago, this is my wife. Please address her properly."

Then she found that Bennett was also there. Zaria pulled a long face.

“Why are you here?”

What an annoying man! She thought.

Bennett swiftly pulled Claudia close, steering her clear from Zaria's embrace.

Claudia was taken aback by Zaria‘s unexpected eagerness to greet her with such warmth.

Was this the new trend among elite young Ladies?

Obviously, it was not.

Zaria clearly showed distaste for Bennett's presence.

Yet, Claudia felt uneasy. She had offhandedly mentioned earlier that something felt off about Zaria. What had been a mere comment was now a growing suspicion. Did Zaria really have hidden motives?

With a frosty tone, Bennett declared, "I'm here with my wife."

Seeking to defuse the tension, Claudia extended the gift she carried.

“Miss Santiago, happy birthday. I wasn't sure of your preferences. It's just a small token."

Zaria's eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Really? Is it really a gift for me?"