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.

Now that was out of the blue. Seemed like he wasn't too thrilled about her hanging

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

easy, whatever you're

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

them were starting to

Lysander asked, his voice tinged

lightly. "He's

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 she put in, there was never enough time to be with him. He was always buried in work, and even when she tried

make sure he stayed home that day-anything

Chapter 24

blankly at the table,

serious, but since she wasn't talking, he wouldn't push her. Not his

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

with his own thoughts about Elara, replied in an almost bored 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

should I? She dumped me. What, you want me to crawl back, begging for

part of him regretted seeing Elara with Lysander and sometimes had this flicker of wanting her back. But at

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!"

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, or I

door slammed shut, Asher rushed to the spot under his bed where he'd stashed some money. Sure enough, every

had any privacy. There were only a few places he could hide things, and his father always managed to sniff

had been careful to save a portion of it for his college expenses, knowing he couldn't depend on Jefferson for anything. But even with

house. Jefferson was

him. He clenched

Lysander walked

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