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.

her pause. 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

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

whatever you're having

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

more often lately, and things between them were starting to feel

been back lately?" Lysander asked,

head lightly.

her SATE Now, she was working hard every day, hoping to boost

had a plan. When the time came, she'd make sure he stayed home that day-anything to stop

Chapter 24

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

tell him she was hiding something serious, but since she wasn't talking, he wouldn't push her.

for him, arms crossed, his expression dark. The tension in the room was thick as soon as Asher stepped in. "How are

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

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

sometimes had this flicker of wanting her back. But at the same. time, breaking up with her felt like a weight off his chest-especially when he looked at Jefferson

and slapped Asher hard across the face. "You useless piece of shit! Without her, where are we gonna get the money?

rolling in. My gambling didn't matter then! But no, you had to screw things up with that broke-ass girl.

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

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

out financially so many times, and Asher had been careful to save a portion of it for his college expenses, knowing he couldn't

Jefferson was

father had disappeared, rage bubbled up inside him. He clenched his fists, then, without thinking, kicked

and Lysander walked out of the

Hawthorne family's driver hurried to open an umbrella and escorted