After Death, Love Unveiled

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.

she let

sitting beside her, glanced over. "Not

know who it is," Elara

times before she finally picked

Asher's voice was boiling with anger on

Elara felt. She'd sworn to herself she wouldn't get involved

until she did, she knew she wouldn't be

smirk, teasing, "What's got you so riled up,

ass over here and pay the bill. Don't make this a scene." -He'd planned to slip out right after the birthday party, cut Elara

broke, unable to pay, leaving everyone in this painfully awkward

this something? It's your birthday, and I haven't spent a single cent. Why should I be the one footing

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Chapter to

slip him tens of thousands every month,

it was his due, always acting like the big spender, always with a crowd around. None of

What the

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

the phone. But she wasn't the same Elara who used to bend over backward for him. And Asher, now, was left in a swirl of

but cutting. "Not gonna beg? Fine. Whatever. I'm

phone tightly, his voice low and strained through clenched

settle the tab. No one could leave,

word, Elara hung up. She turned to Lysander. "I'll

party guests were still awkwardly clustered, all throwing each other uncomfortable glances, clearly waiting for Asher to pay up. No one could

their arrogance had crumbled. Nothing wipes out someone's pride faster than being trapped with no way to pay the bill. Elara bearned, her smile as bright as ever. "What's going on, everyone? Isn't this Asher's big birthday party? Why the long faces?' Her gaze slid deliberately toward Asher Blackwood, whose expression was stormy with anger. Daphne stood nearby, clearly confused

Blackwood hasn't settled the bill yet, so I gave

guys. No need to get all tense over something small like that. We're all friends here, right? I'll

card without hesitation,

payment.