After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter 24

If it weren't for his rivalry with Asher, Lysander wouldn't have even bothered with this competition

When Elara overheard Lysander-usually so straight-laced-make a rare comment about Asher, she couldn't help but chuckle

"Wow, never pegged him for the gossiping type, Elara thought, though she knew Lysander was just being honest.

"You're seriously something else!" she exclaimed. "I mean, look at you-handsome, smart, great at sports. Every pri at my table today couldn't stop drooling over you."

"I don't even know who they are, Lysander said flatly

Elara laughed. "I know you don't. That's not the point-I'm just saying, you've got people mesmerized"

Lysander didn't respond, staying silent as usual.

After a pause, Elara asked, "Aren't you worried people might start talking? I mean, us hanging out together, so publicly, at school? You know how people are."

"What would they say?" Lysander shot her a confused look.

Elara smirked. "There's this rumor going around that I'm, you know, some rich guy's sugar baby. They're always whispering about it behind my back. My reputation's already trashed."

Lysander's expression didn't change. "I couldn't care less about that," he said firmly, "Besides, do you even look like the type who needs some old dude's money!"

Elara laughed again, shaking her head. He'd clearly heard the rumors all along but never said a word-until now.

"He doesn't show up just to play knight in shining armor, does he?' she wondered.

The driver pulled up and dropped them off at a restaurant for dinner.

message from Asher, saying: [I'm sorry:] That made her pause. An apology from Asher? Now that was out of the blue. Seemed like he wasn't too thrilled about her

feel like eating?" Lysander asked, snapping her

smiled. "I'm easy, whatever you're having works

making sure to throw in some spicy ones, knowing she liked her food with a

between them were starting to feel comfortable.

lately?" Lysander asked, his voice tinged

her head lightly. "He's been swamped with

back in time, he had died in a car accident just before her SATE Now, she was working hard every day, hoping to boost her grades, but no matter how much effort

time came, she'd make sure

Chapter 24

her food, staring blankly at the table, clearly lost in thought. She did

tell him she was hiding something serious, but since she wasn't talking, he

dark. The tension in

his own thoughts about Elara, replied in an almost bored tone, "Nothing's changed. He sounded as indifferent as he

wearing thin, "Why should I? She dumped me. What, you want me to crawl back, begging for another shot? I've got some

him regretted seeing Elara with Lysander and sometimes had this flicker of wanting her back. But at the same. time,

stormed over and slapped Asher hard across the face. "You useless piece of shit! Without her, where are we gonna get the money? Hand over everything you've got!" Asher stared in disbelief,

then! But no, you had to screw things

slammed shut, Asher rushed to the spot under his bed where

in this cramped, shitty house with Jefferson, Asher barely had any privacy. There were only a few places he could hide things, and his father

careful to save a portion of it for his college expenses, knowing he couldn't depend on

out of the house. Jefferson was already long gone, nowhere

inside him. He clenched his fists, then,

and Lysander walked out of

to open