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.

Elara, but she let the phone

glanced over.

who it is," Elara

two more times before she

is this supposed to mean?!" Asher's voice was boiling with anger on the other

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

until she did, she knew she wouldn't be able to

"What's got you so

your 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 off once and for all. But of course,

broke, unable to pay, leaving everyone in this painfully

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

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used to slip him tens of thousands every month,

acting like the big spender, always with a crowd around. None of them had a clue

do you have to do this right now? What the hell

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

frustration in 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

cutting. "Not gonna beg? Fine.

tightly, his voice low and

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

up. She turned to Lysander.

the private room, where the party guests were still awkwardly clustered, all throwing each other uncomfortable glances, clearly waiting for Asher to pay up.

her smile as bright as ever. "What's going on, everyone? Isn't this Asher's big birthday party? Why the long faces?'

settled the bill yet, so I gave him

"Oh, I see! No big deal, guys. No need to get all tense over something small like that.

handed over her card without hesitation, and the manager

payment.