After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter

13

Before Elara could even open her mouth, Asher cut in. That birthday party? Yeah, that was all you. You were the one who wanted me to invite everyone. I couldn't care less about it. But then you go and humiliate people on purpose.

"What, just because you've got money, you think it gives you the right to shit all over everyone else? And don't even try to spin i like you're doing me a favor. That cash was nothing but my tutoring fee! From now on, I'm done with your money, and d even think about asking me for help again Asher finished, not waiting for her to respond, and swapped seats like he couldn't get away from her fast enough.

Oh, look at him. Mr. Too Cool for Everyone Genius, Elara thought sarcastically.

She hadn't forgotten how he used to beg her for help. She even felt a little sorry for him when she saw Jefferson hit him. But now, honestly, she figured he deserved every bit of it.

Not holding back, Elara shot back, "Tutoring? Asher, you've got some serions balls calling it that. Since when have you actually tutored me! All you've done is bum through my money. I'm still at the bottom of the class every month. Is that what you call tutoring?" Asher's expression didn't change. "I already told you-you're the one who's not getting it. How's that my problem? Elara, with all that money you throw around, maybe it's time you invest in a new brain."

That line got the crowd around them laughing.

Elara, pissed at his smugness, snapped, "Are you sure it's me who's not getting it, and not your shitty teaching?"

Asher, remembering how Elara had turned to Lysander for tutoring recently, smirked. "Alright then, let's see how you do in the midterm. If you manage to climb a hundred places in the rankings. I'll admit it was my fault"

He was thinking. Good luck with that. Let's see if Lysander can teach her anything. She barely uses her brain as it is!

"Deal!" Elara barked back. locking eyes with him. He clearly thought she was too dumb to make that kind of improvement. Does he seriously think I'm that much of an idiot? she thought.

making sure everyone could hear him. "You all heard her! If she jumps

started buzzing, eyes glued

chimed in. "Hey, Elara, if Asher here's willing to run six miles, why don't you agree to do the same if you lose? Or are you too scared? Come on, if you're gonna back out, just

tutoring sessions with Lysander, she actually felt like she was starting to make some progress. So,

about winning anymore. This was about proving something to herself. She needed this. A goal, a challenge. something

a smug chuckle when he saw her

at how quickly she'd jumped at the challenge, but considering how clueless she always

huffing and puffing through six miles almost made

into the classroom, lingering by the doorway just long enough to catch

just smart-he was ridiculously good-looking. Sure, he wasn't loaded, but the guy had

shallow airhead. Asher, on the other hand, had brains, looks, and ambition. He was destined for success, and Daphne being by his side

approached Asher, her voice soft yet deliberate. "Asher, so what if your dad's a driver? He's carning an honest living, and you? You're top of the class every time. Given where you

especially with the classinates who had always been illy about Asher. To them, Daphne's loyalty made her seem like

complete fool-not only was she lazy, but she'd also tried to latch onto Asher, and it backfired

amusement. 'Oh, how fucking precious, she thought, practically rolling her eyes. They're like a match made in heaven. What a fucking joke. I must've

all she could do now was hope these two losers stayed

to Asher's sharp comments earlier, Elara's reputation was in the gutter. Her classmates no longer saw her as anything more

She'd finally shaken off the labels of "Asher's simp" and "servant's daughter," but now she had

her time travel, these

gossip. She focused on her studies and refused

showed up