After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter 25

As always, Asher kept that icy mask firmly in place around Elara, never letting even the faintest hint of warmth slip through.

She knew all too well that his heart was as cold and unyielding as stone. Any brief glimpses of kindness were nothing but a charade.

Yet, despite knowing this, catching that rare moment of softness stirred something deep inside her-an unexpected and unwelcome flicker of satisfaction. "No." Elara muttered.

A faint smirk tugged at the corners of Asher's lips. "So, you're really not gonna make up with me, huh?"

Elara hesitated for a split second, then shot back with a smirk of her own, "What, you're broke again? You only pull this crap when you're running low on cash."

He met her gaze, completely unfazed, and replied slowly, "You're reading way too much into this. I just wanted to check in on you. But hey, whatever, I'm out."

He turned to leave, but after just a few steps, his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Elara quickly called out for Ursa. When Ursa rushed over and spotted Asher sprawled out, she couldn't help but blurt, "Isn't that Mr. Blackwood? What happened to him? Elara rolled her eyes. "How should I know? He just collapsed like a fool!"

ta

Ursa, umbrella in hand, crouched down and pressed a hand to Asher's forehead. "Shit, he's burning up-probably got a fever. What should we do? Leave him here, or do we help him!"

Elara took a breath, then shrugged. "Fine, let's drag him inside and get a doctor."

"Should we put him in his old room?" Ursa asked, looking a little unsure.

"Hell no. Didn't Jefferson have a spare room somewhere? Stick him there for now," Elara replied dismissively.

Once, she'd gone all out to prepare a room just for him, decorating it to perfection. But now, with him in this sorry state, she figured that would be a waste. The driver's quarters seemed plenty good for him now, Ursa directed the staff to haul Asher into the servant's quarters and called in a doctor. After checking him out, they confirmed it was just a fever-nothing serious. They left him there to sleep it off.

outside. Fresh from her

come.

then, her phone buzzed with a

back: [Ok. I just got out of

[Got

letting herself drift off, the sound of rain tapping gently against

had whipped up for her.

"He was up before dawn and took

surprised. "Seriously?" She figured he'd still

he wasn't having it. Honestly, sometimes I can't figure out what's going on in that guy's head."

smirked. "Right? He acts like he's got a few

him again. Elara reassured her with a grin, "No need to worry! If he hadn't collapsed at my doorstep yesterday, I wouldn't have bothered I'm not looking to deal with a corpse on my porch." Ursa sighed with relief.

stopped being so infatuated, Ursa felt more at case.

now in clean clothes, sitting in the classroom. When he saw her, he quickly averted his gaze, slipping back into his usual icy demeanor. Elara silently fumed, 'What an asshole. I saved his sorry ass last night, and he can't even say thanks. So, she plopped

on their way to a student

a quick glance. "Yeah,

isn't the end of the world. Daphne tried to

seen him with Elara the day before and was

still pissed off

mood, Daphne gathered her courage and said, "Asher... if you want to

Elara. It's just... seeing her with Lysander gets on my nerves. I

to escape Jefferson's schemes to scam the Kensington family. He

he couldn't

morning, he left the Kensington place, determined to

a while after that, Asher was always seen with

into her studies and

it was the perfect time to