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."

you sure it won't mess with your own stuff? You've got your own

concern off. "Nah, don't worry about it.

is, he'd already finished the high school curriculum and had a guaranteed spot at university. But to spare her feelings, he decided to keep that

thank you so much!" Elara said, her eyes lighting up. "Just... don't think I'm dumb, okay? My grades suck. She sighed,

was a total asshole when it came to teaching her. If she didn't get something right away, he'd lose

that at all. I'll

Lysander stayed mostly quiet, prompting Elara to pick up her fork and serve

Asher stormed in after 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 him on

the dishes already touched, his expression

Chapter 5

him a cold glance and continued eating,

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

would have kept her distance from other guys to keep him happy

cutlery and met his glare. "He's my guest.

"What? You invite him just to

thought there was

it. Asher. You just don't mean

a time when she thought the world revolved around Asher, but now all she felt was disgust. Liking someone like him would only drag

someone else? Shit, that's a relief-I won't have to deal with your bullshit anymore. With that, he stormed upstairs slamming

him.

there, momentarily speechless, caught

left, she noticed Lysander's expression shift slightly. Feeling awkward, she quickly added, "Don't listen

a vague "sure and stayed

to the door. "Take

replied with a short nod and left without another

come back downstairs, now wearing a short-sleeved shirt instead

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

this time, Asher wasn't playing around. His tone was serious as he asked,

was just the driver's son, especially not Lysander. Elara's response was icy. "Do I really need to

told him to do it. It wasn't his fault. If you're pissed