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.

made her pause. An apology from Asher? Now that was out of the blue. Seemed like he wasn't too thrilled about her hanging around

you feel like eating?" Lysander

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

in some spicy ones, knowing she liked her food with a

between them were starting to feel comfortable. Like they'd fallen into a

back lately?" Lysander asked, his voice tinged with

shook her head lightly. "He's been swamped with

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

came, she'd make sure he stayed home that day-anything to stop that accident

Chapter 24

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

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

his expression dark. The tension in the room was thick as soon as Asher stepped in. "How are

"Nothing's changed. He sounded as indifferent as he felt about Jefferson's question. "Nothing? Didn't I tell you to

What, you want me to crawl back, begging for another shot? I've got some danm

back. But at

and in a flash, he 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, his check stinging. "You've been gambling again,

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 big fish get away! Get her back,

rushed to the spot under his

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

for his college expenses, knowing he couldn't

house. Jefferson was

up inside him. He clenched his fists, then,

Lysander walked out of the

in torrents. The Hawthorne family's driver hurried to open an umbrella and escorted