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.

message from Asher, saying: [I'm sorry:] That 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 Lysander.

Lysander asked, snapping her

whatever you're having works

some spicy ones, knowing she liked

between them were starting to

Lysander asked, his voice tinged

her head lightly. "He's been swamped

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 to

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

Chapter 24

at the table, clearly lost in thought. She did

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

expression dark. The tension in the room was thick as

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

She dumped me. What, you want me to crawl back,

But at the same. time, breaking up with her felt like a weight

another word in, 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 got!" Asher stared in disbelief, his check stinging. "You've been

your 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 done! You let the big fish get away! Get her back, or I swear to God, I'll make your life hell!" Jefferson raged before

Asher rushed to the spot under his bed where he'd stashed some money. Sure enough, every last dollar was

barely had any privacy. There were only a few places he could

portion of it for his college expenses, knowing he couldn't depend on Jefferson for anything.

of the house. Jefferson was already long gone, nowhere

him. He clenched his

Elara and Lysander walked out

rain was coming down in torrents. The Hawthorne family's driver hurried to open an