After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter 5

A cheeky thought crossed her mind, and Elara couldn't resist teasing Lysander. "Why won't you look at me? Do I really look!

that bad?

Her grades were never anything impressive, but she'd always been considered quite the looker.

Growing up in a sheltered environment, she was practically untouched by sunlight, giving her that perfect, porcelain-doll complexion. If it wasn't for Asher and his bullshit, she wouldn't even be in that mess before.

Lysander finally looked her way, his voice calm. "That's not it. He seemed composed, but if one looked close enough, one could see the tips of his cars turning red.

Elara's lips curled into a smirk. I heard you're always top of the class. That true?"

Lysander shifted in his seat, feeling a little weird with how friendly she was being out of nowhere. "Uh... yeah, I guess you could say that."

"Know any good tutors you can recommend?" she asked.

She'd already decided not to rely on Asher anymore. She wasn't about to keep making the same mistakes-leaning on her dad and slacking off' in school.

Now that she had the time, she was set on pulling her grades up. And if Lysander knew someone, they had to be good.

"A tutor? I thought Asher was... Lysander trailed off. He'd heard she had a classmate tutor her, which was why Asher had spent so much time at her house.

"I let him go, she said flatly. Asher hadn't just looked down on her, he had zero patience when it came to tutoring. It was a waste of money.

Lysander raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. He studied her face, realizing she wasn't joking. To hide his unease, he took a sip of his drink before responding. "I never used a tutor. I've always studied on my own. But... if you're cool with it, I could stop by every day and help you out."

He wasn't expecting her to take him seriously. She barely even acknowledged him before tonight, and this dinner invite was already unexpected enough.

Elara's face lit up with genuine surprise. "Really?"

Lysander nodded quickly, caught off guard by how happy she looked. "Yeah, if it works for you, I'm available whenever."

him a warm smile. Td really appreciate that, but are you sure it won't mess with your own stuff?

concern off. "Nah, don't worry about

he'd already finished the high school curriculum and had a guaranteed spot at university. But to

lighting up. "Just... don't think I'm dumb, okay? My grades suck. She sighed, thinking back to those awful tutoring sessions with

teaching her. If she didn't get something right away, he'd

don't think that at all.

ate and chatted, Lysander stayed mostly quiet, prompting Elara to pick up her

dropping off Daphne. He was already in a foul mood-he'd just found out his father had been fired and had gutten an earful from

the dishes already touched, his expression turned stormy.

Chapter 5

glance and

I ysander sitting there, his irritation only grew. "What the fuck is he doing here?" he

him happy Whenever Lysander came around, she'd send him away. But now she'd actually let him

glare. "He's my guest. You got a

dropped into a chair, scowling. "What? You invite him just

always beating him in competitions. So Asher thought there was no way she suddenly enjoyed his company. Lysander remained silent, not even

Asher's gaze, her voice steady. "You're overthinking it. Asher.

the world revolved around Asher, but now all she felt was disgust. Liking someone like him

jealous, Elara, you're fucking clueless, Seeing you. with someone else? Shit, that's

him.

momentarily speechless, caught off

Feeling awkward, she quickly added, "Don't listen to

just gave a vague "sure and

door. "Take care on your way home," she

short

went back inside, she found Asher had come back downstairs, now

she couldn't deny that his face was still annoyingly handsome, with that effortless charm that had drawn her

His tone was serious as he asked,

just the driver's

agitated. "I'm the one who told him to do it. It wasn't his fault. If you're