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."

Td really appreciate that, but are you sure it won't mess with your own stuff?

"Nah, don't worry about it. It won't be

school curriculum and had a guaranteed spot at university. But to spare her feelings, he decided to keep that to

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

her. If she didn't get something right away, he'd lose his temper. Her grades went

at all. I'll come by after school tomorrow.

stayed mostly quiet, prompting Elara to pick up her

already in a foul mood-he'd just

he saw Elara sitting there, eating, with the dishes already touched, his expression

Chapter 5

cold glance and continued eating,

there, his irritation only grew. "What the fuck is

Elara would have kept her distance from other guys to keep him happy Whenever Lysander came around, she'd send him away. But now she'd

his glare.

"What? You invite him

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

it. Asher. You just don't mean that much to

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

Elara, you're fucking clueless, Seeing you. with someone else? Shit, that's a relief-I won't have to deal with your bullshit anymore. With that, he stormed

him.

there, momentarily speechless, caught off

awkward, she quickly added, "Don't listen to his crap. 'He's really pissed about this?' she

gave a vague "sure

she walked him to the door. "Take care on your way home," she

a short nod and left

back inside, she found Asher had come back downstairs, now wearing a short-sleeved shirt instead of

was still annoyingly handsome, with that effortless charm that had drawn her in

His tone was serious as he asked, "Why did you fire

waited until they were alone to ask, not wanting anyone else to know he was just the driver's son, especially not Lysander. Elara's response was icy.

my dad," Asher shot back, clearly agitated. "I'm the one who told him to do it. It wasn't his fault. If you're pissed off, take