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.

called Elara, but she

her, glanced

know who it is,"

times before

to mean?!" Asher's voice was boiling with anger on the

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

did, she knew she wouldn't be able

sly smirk, teasing, "What's

Don't make this a scene." -He'd planned to slip out right after the birthday party, cut Elara off once

unable to pay, leaving everyone in

cent. Why should I be the one footing the bill? Maybe you should ask your loyal fans-you know,

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Chapter to

close. Elara used to slip him tens of thousands every month, calling it a

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

the hell do

favor, maybe try sounding like it. What

his ragged breathing through 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

again, her tone light but cutting. "Not

Asher gripped the phone tightly, his voice low and strained through

stood around, eyes darting, waiting for someone to settle the tab. No one could leave, and Asher could feel the weight of all

another word, Elara hung up. She turned to Lysander. "I'll be back in

all throwing each other uncomfortable glances, clearly waiting for Asher to pay up.

over the room, taking in the well-dressed crowd. She remembered how smug they'd been earlier, but now 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

settled the bill yet, so I gave him a

her voice smooth. "Oh, I see! No big deal, guys. No need to get all tense over something small

that, she handed over her card without hesitation, and the manager quickly

payment.