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.

She glanced at the screen-it was a message from Asher, saying: [I'm sorry:] That made her pause. An apology from Asher? Now that was out of the blue. Seemed like

what do you feel like eating?" Lysander asked, snapping her out of

whatever you're having

some

more often lately, and things between them were starting to feel comfortable. Like they'd

Lysander asked, his voice tinged with

head lightly. "He's

day, hoping to boost her grades, but no matter how much effort she put in, there was never enough time to be with him. He was always buried in work, and even when

she'd make sure he stayed home that day-anything to

Chapter 24

food, staring blankly at the table, clearly lost in thought. She did this often- Joming out at

him she was hiding something serious, but since she

The tension in the room was thick as soon as Asher stepped in. "How are things going with Elaral"

tone, "Nothing's changed. He sounded as indifferent as he felt about Jefferson's question. "Nothing? Didn't I tell you to win her back? What the hell

What, you want me to crawl back,

flicker of wanting her back. But at the same. time, breaking up with her felt

stormed over and slapped Asher hard across the face. "You useless piece

You want me to beat you again? When you were with Elara, we had money rolling in. My gambling didn't matter then! But no, you had to screw things up with that broke-ass girl. Now look at what you've done! You let the

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

were only a few places he could hide things, and his father always managed

careful to save a portion of it for his college expenses, knowing he

house. Jefferson was already long gone, nowhere

rage bubbled up inside him. He clenched his fists, then, without thinking, kicked the wall

Elara and Lysander walked out of

coming down in torrents. The Hawthorne family's driver hurried to open an umbrella and escorted Elara to the car