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.

An apology from Asher? Now that was out of the blue. Seemed like he wasn't too thrilled about her hanging around Lysander. "Typical guy-acts like he doesn't care until someone else

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

"I'm easy, whatever you're

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

between them were starting to

lately?" Lysander

lightly. "He's

to boost her grades, but no matter how much effort she put in,

make sure

Chapter 24

at the table, clearly lost in thought. She

since she wasn't

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

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

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

and sometimes had this flicker of wanting her back. But at the same. time, breaking up with

Jefferson's face twisted with rage, 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

mother did! 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

under his bed where he'd stashed some money. Sure enough, every

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

had helped him out financially so many times, and Asher had been careful to save a portion of it for his college expenses, knowing he

Jefferson was already

inside him. He clenched his fists, then,

walked

The Hawthorne family's driver hurried to open