ssed, yet Claudia had never been so vict

to her affection for Anthony. Claudia often lost

emes, yet she continuously stumbled

ys embarrassed hersel

objectively, she realized that D

e she ha

n she hung up the call was enough to ma

, turned off the lig

sleep was rema

Jace noticed Claudia's exc

enjoyed an extra piece

inally felt at ease to leave for w

had taken intermittent leave over a month. So Clau

the piano room. After a month-long hiatus

s, she quickly lost herself i

mersed in the melodies if her

p the call. Seeing an unfam

be growing incre

pursuing me, why not focus on se

rshall,

laudia. She accidentally struck the piano keys, the s

ption, Claudia felt a hint of

t your

, Claudia spotted a Be

on for your visi

ending the stairs was quite

ken, she remembered w

ised at her question. He chuc

kin, let me e

ain

ld she confess that she only intended to use him

feeling as if she

ennett's plans, it was evident

ing with my emot

Claudia hastily denied, "No, I

tt's voice from behind. "Considering you

at a loss

had ascended the stairs. Cla

nett approached Claudia and

y scent, Claudia instinct

e a bother," Bennett sai

r out of the room, asking, "W

t's in m

Claudia's mind blanked. She found herse

dia wanted to protest but found herself silenced by his dark,

ity to toy with his fe