Ainsley’s lips quirked into a smile, but there was something darker about it, a sharpness that made Lucian’s instincts prick up.
“Why are you so sure?” Ainsley drawled, his voice dripping with a mix of curiosity and mockery. “What if Eloise isn’t exactly the sweet little thing you think she is?”
Lucian raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Then I’ll still choose her. Pretty simple, really.”
Ainsley’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, really? So, you’re telling me no matter what happens, no matter what comes to light, you’re going to keep chasing after her? Even if she’s... less than perfect?”
Lucian leaned back in his seat, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Let’s put it this way: I’m in it for the long haul. You know, like a committed person who actually knows what they want.”
Ainsley laughed, thou
