“Is that so?" Ariana regarded him skeptically.

Theodore met her questioning gaze with a slight nod.

“Mmm,” Ariana murmured her acceptance. Despite her lingering doubts, she refrained from probing further.

After all, he frequently came up with varied reasons to spend the night here. She had grown accustomed to it.

Moreover, their long separation made her reluctant to bid him goodbye.

She yearned for his company a little longer.

Without any further words, Ariana let him stay and proceeded to take a shower.

On emerging from the bathroom, she found Theodore reclined on the bed, engrossed in a book, entirely at ease.

This sight didn't faze Ariana. They had shared the same bed countless times, after all.

She towel-dried her hair, slipped into bed, and nestled up to Theodore.

Instantly setting his book aside, Theodore drew her closer into his embrace, softly inquiring, “What was it you wanted to discuss before dinner?"

Ariana hesitated.

Theodore's stance remained inscrutable. After a pause, she revealed,

“Did you hear about Sarah and Aziel?"”

Theodore, mostly indifferent to others' affairs, asked curiously, “What's the matter?"

“It's nothing major. Sarah expressed her desire to have a child with Aziel." As Ariana said this, she felt a twinge of guilt. Using Sarah as a pretext was her only recourse, considering she was the only one in a committed relationship in their circle.

“And?" Theodore was still at a loss to see the relevance of Sarah and Aziel's decision to their conversation.

He regarded Ariana silently before asking, “Do you want a child?"

Ariana fell silent once more. Theodore's ambiguous reaction made her hesitant. Instead of a direct answer, she ventured, "I am fond of children."

Upon hearing this, Theodore remained unruffled. He nodded and suggested calmly, "We could consider adoption."