“She's fine. I'm calling about something else. Will you please explain to me why I have a Lipstick stain on my collar?"

“Lipstick stain? What Lipstick stain? On your collar? I didn't see it." Hearing this, Bennett sneered, “Kayla, what did you do to my collar when I wasn't Looking?"

Hearing his stern words, Kayla, who was on the other end of the Line, paused. Then, she finally answered, "I must've rubbed my Lips on it accidentally. I'm sorry."

Bennett didn't say anything more and hung up.

After hanging up the phone, he stared at Claudia.

The phone was on speaker just now, and Claudia clearly heard the conversation between Bennett and Kayla. Now she realized that she had misunderstood Bennett.

Awkwardness filled the air inside the car.

She threw caution to the wind just now and admitted to Bennett that she Lied about having a stomachache.

She lowered her head and fastened her seat belt.

"God, please make Bennett forget about all this," she prayed silently in her heart.

While Claudia was suffering in silence, Bennett gunned the car's engine.

Claudia was stunned. She raised her head and glanced at Bennett.

She didn't want him to notice her.

Tut, like a timid rabbit. And this rabbit will get punished when we get home. Bennett thought.

The entire ride home was quiet. Bennett knew that Claudia was only pretending to be asleep, but he didn't expose her. Twenty minutes later, they were pulling into the garage.

Bennett turned off the engine, pulled out the key, and unfastened his seat belt. He carefully took off his coat and then undid the top two buttons of his shirt.

After that, he got out of the car, walked to the passenger-side door, and opened it. He reached out and unfastened Claudia's seat belt.

Claudia, who was awake, felt Bennett's presence. The next second, he picked her up and carried her in his arms again.

Claudia opened her eyes a bit and peeked at Bennett's chin.

Wasn't it inappropriate for her to pretend to be asleep?

After he took her upstairs, was she supposed to act like she'd just woken up?

While Claudia tried to decide whether or not to “wake up", Bennett had already ascended the stairs and taken her to the second floor.

Forget it. They were already upstairs. In a few moments, he would be laying her on her bed. She'd better continue pretending to be asleep.

Claudia's room wasn't far from the stairs, but after reaching the top of the staircase, Bennett walked for another seven to eight seconds, which was too Long.