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.

window, watching the rain pour down outside. Fresh from her shower, she lay in bed,

come.

then, her phone buzzed with

just

[Got

yeah. Good night.] She typed before finally letting herself drift off, the sound of rain

lavish breakfast Ursa had whipped up

up before dawn and

raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Seriously?" She figured he'd still

you woke up, but he wasn't having it. Honestly,

He acts like he's

know, Mr. Hawthorne seems like a much better catch. You really should keep your distance from Asher. She worried Elara might get mixed up with him again. Elara reassured her with a grin, "No need to worry! If he hadn't collapsed at

had stopped being so infatuated, Ursa felt more at case. It seemed

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

up with Asher on their way to a student council meeting,

gave her a quick glance. "Yeah, I'm

losing the game yesterday isn't the end of the world. Daphne tried to reassure him, but worry tinged

day before and

stayed silent, still pissed off about Jefferson swiping his money last

if you want to be with

and said earnestly. "You're way off base! I'm not into Elara. It's just... seeing her with Lysander gets on my nerves. I can't

figuring out how to escape Jefferson's schemes to scam the

and he couldn't let himself be dragged into something he had no desire to be a

as he sobered up that morning, he left the Kensington place, determined

seen with Daphne

on the other hand, didn't really care. She threw herself into her

perfect