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.

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. "Typical guy-acts like he doesn't care until someone else steps in, she

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

easy, whatever you're having works

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

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

Lysander asked, his

shook her head lightly. "He's been

was working hard every day, hoping to

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

Chapter 24

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

tell him she was hiding something serious, but since

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

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

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

and sometimes had this flicker of wanting her back. But at

over and slapped Asher hard across the face. "You useless piece of shit!

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.

the door slammed shut, Asher rushed to the spot under his bed where

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

times, and Asher 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 all his precautions. Jefferson had

Jefferson

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

walked out

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