438 An affirmative response

```

Gem Atkinson stepped out of the shower, drying his hair, only to find that the woman's figure was indeed gone. Annoyance welled up in him once more. Whether it was at her or at himself, he couldn't tell. In a fit of irritation, he threw the towel onto the floor and flung himself onto the bed.

Master bedroom.

After calling the little creatures to feed and changing their diapers, Forsythia Brown, hands on hips, paced back and forth.

"Gem, don't regret this, for once this chance is gone, it's gone forever."

"You don't cherish me, and I don't cherish you either."

"If you want to remain celibate, then be my guest..."

Whenever she thought about celibacy, she was reminded of the days she couldn't conceive and the way the man restrained himself as if he were an ascetic. Her heart unwittingly softened again.