“No reward?” Ainsley’s mouth trembled, and he looked like he might burst into tears at any second.
Eloise bit her lip hard. “Of course, you get a reward. Like I said, you did great.” She reached out and ruffled his hair. The next moment, she froze as Ainsley, clearly overjoyed, rested his head contentedly on her shoulder.
Just then, Eric came up behind them, his voice low. “Everything’s ready, we can send it now.”
No one spoke. The tension in the air was almost unbearable as they quietly got into the car. As the vehicle rolled down the dark road, Eloise stole a glance at Ainsley, who had already fallen asleep beside her.
He used to occupy most of her life — in every memory, every thought. Now, the air inside the car felt stifling. Eloise turned her head sharply to the window, blinking
