With a smile, Alexis said, “Okay, let's not get too emotional. I have to go."

Indeed, Alexis had a client meeting. She didn't return to her apartment until 9 pm after a hectic half-day. She noticed two missed calls from Leonel but she didn't rush to call him back. Instead, she stood quietly in front of the apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows, lost in thought.

Perhaps, she was ready for marriage.

And a child.

The thought of having a cute baby with Leonel brought a smile to her face.

She took out her phone and messaged Leonel, "When are you coming back? Leonel, I miss you a little."

Leonel's response was swift. "In three days."

He missed her too.

Alexis thought about the message for a while. She then set her phone aside and looked eastward.

Leonel was thousands of kilometers away.

Compelled, she sent another message. "Edwin took Laura home today.

She didn't show much of a baby bump, but she seemed well-fed."

In Heron, Leonel read her message in silence.

He didn't respond immediately.

Leonel knew Alexis well. Her message clearly implied she wanted a child, but he felt it wasn't right for them to have one. Moreover, he had undergone a vasectomy.

He finally replied after a long pause. "Sounds like Lunch was delicious."

Alexis had anticipated his response for quite a while.

As she saw the sentence, she felt somewhat let down.

She was a woman so she couldn't directly suggest to Leonel, saying "Let's get married and have children!"

Alexis was unable to sleep all night.