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.

hear him. "You all heard her! If she jumps a hundred spots in

The crowd started buzzing, eyes

anything else, Lizzie 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 admit it now." Elara didn't flinch. She met Lizzie's challenge with a calm,

didn't seem impossible. After a few tutoring sessions with Lysander, she actually felt like

something to herself. She needed this. A goal, a challenge. something to push her

couldn't help but let out a smug chuckle when he saw her agree. "Idiot," he

a little surprised at how quickly she'd jumped at the challenge, but considering how clueless she always seemed when he explained things, he couldn't wait to watch her

idea of her huffing and puffing through six miles almost made him laugh out

Daphine walked into the classroom, lingering by the doorway just long enough

she'd finally come to some clarity. Asher wasn't just smart-he was ridiculously good-looking. Sure, he wasn't loaded, but the guy had grit, which was more than she could say for

the other hand, had brains, looks, and ambition. He was destined for success, and Daphne being by his side wasn't "settling" at all-it

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 started, getting this far must've been brutal. I just

been illy about Asher. To them, Daphne's loyalty

complete fool-not only was she lazy, but

a surge of 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 been out

herself, realizing that all she could do now was hope these two losers stayed together and spared her the

gutter. Her classmates no longer saw her as anything more than a

with her grades tanking, they kept their distance. She'd finally shaken off the labels of "Asher's simp" and "servant's daughter," but

the shitstorm she'd faced before her time travel, these petty rumors were a breeze. She still had her money and her

gossip. She focused on her studies and refused

Barrett showed