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.

a 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

feel like eating?" Lysander asked, snapping her

smiled. "I'm easy, whatever you're

to throw in some

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

back lately?" Lysander

her head lightly. "He's been swamped

back in time, he 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 to get close, he

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

Chapter 24

the table, clearly

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

and immediately spotted Jefferson, waiting for him, arms crossed, his expression dark. The tension in the room was thick as soon as Asher stepped in. "How

"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 the

you want me to crawl back, begging for another shot?

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

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

talk to me like 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

slammed shut, Asher rushed to the spot under his bed where he'd stashed

There were only a few

and Asher had been careful to save a portion of it for his college expenses, knowing he couldn't depend on Jefferson

of the house. Jefferson was already long gone,

had disappeared, rage bubbled up inside him. He clenched his

and Lysander walked out of the

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