After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter 28

Jefferson had just barely dodgeil a real disaster, almost getting hand smashed, while Asher didn't get off so easy-he'd ended up with some fresh bruises.

Those debt collectors weren't playing games. They made it clear they wanted their money, and soon.

Thinking back on his days with the Kensington family, Asher couldn't help but realize life had never been this grim.

Back then, Jefferson had a decent paycheck coming in, and Elars would occasionally throw in some cash.

Sure, Jefferson always took a cut, but he never bled Asher dry. Asher, being a bit of a spender, had usually already blown through a chunk of his own cash anyway, so he wasn't handing over everything to Jefferson, Now, though, his life was an absolute mess compared to those days. Still, the last thing he wanted was to get wrapped up with Elara again.

If he kept listening to Jefferson and scamming her for money, he'd just be turning into another version of the asshole.

Elara's gaze softened as she looked at Asher, her voice gentle. "You know, I really do care about you."

"Huh?" Asher blinked, caught off guard, and turned to meet her eyes.

Elara's lips curled into a playful smirk. "Yeah, I care, I care about how miserable you are. Seeing you down makes me feel

better."

Asher was dumbfounded for a second. Her tone was so sweet, but the words were enough to make him both laugh and want to bang his head against the wall.

Elara kept going. "Next time your dad decides to knock you around, give me a call. Ill come by and give him a round of applause for a job well done."

Asher's face darkened. Annoyed, he pulled out a book, trying to block her out. But he couldn't stop himself from muttering. "You really think Lysander's gonna make you happy?

The guy's loaded, sure, but why would someone like him be into someone as clueless as you? He's definitely up to something"

Elara's expression turned sharp. She shot back, "Whatever's going on between me and him is none of your damn business. But look at you-beat up and pitiful. And where's your girlfriend, huh? Oh right, looks like she's ghosting you. Poor thing."

Daphne would've been the first to rush over to Asher's side,

'She's just been

eyes. "She was right there yesterday when your dad showed up and kept her distance. Asher, do

going for him, she clearly had

Asher were going smoothly, mostly thanks to the quiet support from the

now, with Elara pulling away, the cracks in the Blackwood family were starting to show. Asher never really had to

Chapter 28

Asher couldn't deny it. Just like she said after class, Daphne was nowhere to be found. It was like she was completely swallowed up by her

hell happened to your face? Did you get

golden boy-getting into a fight was the last thing anyone expected from

to play it

offered. "Do you want to call the cops, or

no need for that. I'm

that she couldn't

threw a quick glance at Daphne, who looked completely lost in her own world, then turned back to Elara. "Daphne? She's been swamped with some speech she's working on for a class. Why, you need something from

their shit worked out. Trust me, Daphne's the first one to freak out when Asher gets hurt. She treats him like

in, no matter how rich

just a few feet away, was getting more and more anxious, silently begging for

had hoped to keep things quiet, but now Lizzie had gone and aired

and Asher being a couple. Daphne was full

was a gambler, and she had no intention of getting caught

she worried about what people would think-and what Asher would think. She was scared they'd start calling her a shallow, vain girl with

Asher, curiosity lighting up her eyes. "So, where are you thinking of applying for college?" She remembered the image of Asher and Daphne walking side by side through the

was a memory that stuck with her, but now she was more intrigued by his decision to aim for Brookfield, especially since he was passing up top-tier schools like Queensun University. Part of

at the same college? We already know each other. And besides, it'd be fun to see if your relationship survives. the distance." "You serious?" Asher asked,

teasing but sharp. "With your grades? How do you plan on keeping up with Asher and Daphne? Yeah, you've been doing better lately, but you're not even cracking the top ten in our class. You seriously think you can apply to the same university as

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