After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter 10

hapter 10

After Hadden walked out, Elara gave Lysander a puzzled look. "Why'd you help me?"

She had a ton of information to back her up, sure. But from Lysander's point of view, there was no way he could've known

that.

Lysander leaned back casually. "You asked for help. Why wouldn't I?"

"Aren't you worried I might be full of shit?"

Lysander just smirked. "And if you are? So what? Even if you're making it all up, no skin off my back. It's just a simple favor for him."

His laid-back attitude, the easy confidence in his voice, sent a warm glow through Elara. It made her feel trusted. Something she hadn't felt in a long, long time.

Her mind flashed back to when she was diagnosed with HIV. No one believed her. Everyone jumped to conclusions, assuring she'd been careless, reckless even.

If she had been, maybe she could've accepted the blame. But she hadn't.

People were cruel, keeping their distance, treating her like she was tainted. Eventually, she'd started to hate herself too.

But deep down, she knew the ones who had framed her-they knew her innocence better than anyone.

of

After dinner, Elara and Lysander didn't rush to leave. They ordered dessert, taking their time, enjoying the rare moment o peace

Elara focused on her assignments, biting into her dessert, while Lysander patiently walked her through the problems she couldn't solve on her own. They stayed like that until night fell.

Later, when Asher's birthday party wrapped up and everyone was about to leave, there was a hold-up-Asher hadn't paid the bill.

called Elara, but she let the

glanced over. "Not

know who it is,"

called two more times before she

this supposed to mean?!" Asher's voice was boiling

the more satisfied Elara felt. She'd sworn to herself she wouldn't get involved with him again, but there

she knew she

a sly smirk, teasing, "What's got

make this a scene." -He'd planned to slip out right

to pay, leaving everyone in this painfully awkward

Elara shot back, "Oh, isn't this something? It's your birthday, and I haven't spent a single cent. Why should I be the one footing the bill? Maybe you should ask your

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Chapter to

when they were close. Elara used to slip him tens of thousands every month, calling it

a crowd around. None

flustered and pissed, Asher growled, "Elara, do you have to do this right now? What the hell do you want?

"If you're asking for a favor, maybe try sounding like it. What do

phone. But she wasn't the same Elara who used to

light but cutting. "Not gonna beg?

Asher gripped the phone tightly, his voice low and strained

settle the tab. No one could leave, and

She turned to

clearly waiting for Asher to pay up. No one could move, and Asher had to suffer under their silent judgment. When Elara walked in, the manager immediately greeted

bill. Elara bearned, her smile as bright as ever. "What's going on, everyone? Isn't

manager quickly stepped in, explaining. "Mr. Blackwood hasn't settled the bill yet, so I gave him a

eyebrow, her voice smooth. "Oh, I see! No big deal, guys. No need to

hesitation, and the manager

payment.

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