Claudia put on her slippers and made her way to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth, she emerged to find Bennett sitting on the bed.

Crawling back under the covers, Claudia urged Bennett to take a shower. "You should go freshen up," she said, feeling guilty that he still had to work in the morning.

Bennett nodded in agreement but added, “You should go to sleep first.”

Claudia lay in bed, gazing at Bennett's hand, and then reached out to check it. "Did you burn yourself on the hot cup?”

Turning his hand over, Bennett revealed he had not suffered any burns or blisters. Claudia breathed a sigh of relief.

He then showed her his other hand, teasingly asking, “Is this what you were wondering?"

Claudia felt embarrassed but held his hand before urging him, “Hurry up and have a shower."

As Bennett got up to leave, Claudia shrank into the quilt and whispered, "I want you to hold me while I sleep."

The corners of his mouth curled into a smile as he headed to the shower.

Claudia spoke quietly, but since there were only two of them in the quiet room, Bennett heard her loud and clear.

Following her confession, Claudia turned into a timid mouse and drew the blanket over her head.

"I'm asleep." Upon hearing her muffled voice, Bennett Let out a Laugh without Looking away from the bulge on the bed.

The room echoed with his laughter. As she listened to it, Claudia's face flushed even more.

Lately, she felt Like she had become more shameless.

Claudia's body weakened drastically once her period started.

Her menstrual symptoms worsened after she saved Zaria from the swimming pool and later caught a cold a month ago. It happened right after her period had ended. Although it was summer, she had just recovered from the injuries she sustained in the car accident. It did not help that she was already frail and prone to colds before that.

That was why her period was quite painful this time, and she did not start to feel better until the evening. Even if she was in discomfort before going to sleep, she usually felt better as long as she managed to fall asleep.

Claudia was in so much pain during the day though. Her face was pale and void of color, and she felt an uncomfortable tightening and knotting in her stomach.

When she came down for breakfast in the morning, Marcia was taken aback when she saw her face.

“Mrs. Dreskin, what happened to you? You're so pale. Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

Claudia shook her head and flattened a hand on her abdomen.

“I'm just on my period right now.”

A look of realization spread across Marcia’s face.

“Oh, are you in pain? I'll make some ginger tea with brown sugar for you, okay?"