She reached for the fork and the bowl of noodles that Bennett had placed before her, lowering her head to savor the meal.

Halfway through her noodles, she could no Longer ignore the weight of his gaze. Raising her eyes to meet Bennett's across the table, she implored, "Could you please look away for a moment?"

The act of eating felt oddly awkward under his unwavering scrutiny. Bennett obliged by shifting his focus elsewhere, reclining in his chair. Nonetheless, his eyes occasionally strayed to her face.

With a flushed countenance, Claudia eventually finished her noodles and found herself growing drowsy. Bennett efficiently cleaned up and guided her upstairs.

Upon entering the master bedroom, Claudia felt a slight tension. " I'm feeling quite sleepy.”