After Death, Love Unveiled (Elara and Lysander)

Chapter

12

"Oh, girl! Every time I call, you act like I'm annoying you." Barrett teased with a smirk, then glanced outside. "Wait, hold up-is that the Hawthorne family's car?" Elara spun around, noticing the familiar car parked at

Her eyes were still a bit red from earlier, and she felt a flush of embarrassment as she realized Lysander probably saw.

She quickly turned back to Barrett, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, that's Lysander. He gave me a ride home after dinner."

Barrett arched a brow, clearly surprised. Just a while ago, she was practically fuming at the mere mention of Lysander's name.

When he first brought up the engagement, she had flat-out refused, saying she'd never have anything to do with him. And now! Dinner dates? This was something new. their gate. Lysander was stepping out, smooth and collected as ever.

Even though he was curious, Barrett kept it civil. "Lysander, why don't you come in for a minute?"

"Good evening, Mr. Kensington, Lysander replied, all polite and proper, though his tone had a slight detachment. "I'll have to take a rain check. Got somewhere I need to be."

He threw Elara a long, meaningful look-one that said way more than words-before he turned and slid back into the car.

Elara watched as the car drove off, then awkwardly followed her father into the house.

Barrett, always sharp-eyed, noticed the puffiness around her eyes. "Did he say something to piss you off?"

Elara quickly shook her head. "No, he was actually really nice."

She flopped down onto the couch, feeling Barrett's eyes still on her. It was weird seeing him so full of life and energy.

Hard to believe this was the same man who, in her memories, would eventually grow so much older, so much more distant, when he finally left this world. Barrett

kept digging for a bit, making sure she hadn't been mistreated. Once he was satisfied, he let it go.

00000

Monday morning, the sunlight barely creeping into the room, Elara woke up to Ursa's voice calling through the door. "Elara, Asher's here to see you."

Elara groaned, remembering the blowout from two nights ago. Things between her and Asher were done. Over. She knew it, and he well should too. There was no way she was going to keep putting up with his bullshit.

Still, she hadn't expected him to show up this early.

Elara made her way down the stairs slowly, her gaze landing not just on Asher, but also on his father, Jefferson, who was standing beside him.

Jefferson, seated on the sofa with a look that seemed genuinely apologetic, spoke to Barrett. "Mr. Kensington, I deeply apologize. It's my son, Asher-he's been acting out of line, and I've already dealt with him. I can assure you, he won't bother Elara again. "Elara?" Barrett's face darkened, his brow tightening with clear displeasure. "Who gave you the right to call my daughter by her first name?"

He'd never had much tolerance for the Blackwoods, father or son. If it weren't for the fear of driving Elara away, he wouldn't have let them set foot in his house to begin with.

Realizing his mistake, Jefferson quickly backpedaled, forcing an awkward smile. "Yes, of course. Miss Kensington-my apologies, Miss Kensington!"

As Elara moved gracefully down the stairs, Jefferson's eyes were glued to her. "Morning, Miss Kensington. I brought Asher with me... to apologize."

Elara's eyes slid over to Asher. He was sitting there, face dark like a thunderstorm, not saying a word, but it was clear he was on

258 PM ct c

the edge of blowing up.

Internally. Elara couldn't help but laugh. He looked like he'd rather jump off a cliff. Asher's reluctance was written all over his

face.

He was still pissed off about her birthday, that much was obvious. A genuine apology from him? Not happening, she thought bitterly.

Keeping her voice steady, she said, "Mr. Blackwood, there's really no need for any of this. Asher didn't do anything to offend me, so there's nothing to apologize for."

"But I heard you fired him?" Jefferson's tone was starting to show a bit of desperation.

He hadn't even been this rattled when he got fired. But, of course, his situation was different. He'd been an ordinary worker. scraping by on a modest salary, putting in long hours.

Asher, though, was a whole other deal. Tutoring Elara meant big bucks, and maybe, just maybe, a shot at the Kensington fortune down the road.

With tensions this high between his son and Elara, Jefferson couldn't just sit back and watch the opportunity slip away. Elara sighed and spoke slowly, like she was explaining something obvious. "After years of tutoring, my grades haven't exactly improved. And Asher made it clear he couldn't stand teaching me anymore-thought 1 was too stupid to learn.

"So, I respected his decision and let him go. There's no drama between us, and trust me, no apology is needed."

Barrett listened quietly, noting how calm and composed Elara seemed while talking about the whole situation.

He thought back to how headstrong she'd been when she insisted on having Asher as her tutor. Barrett had only agreed because she'd been so determined.

Now, she was the one to cut him loose.

Barrett felt a mix of surprise and relief. 'Is my girl finally growing up?' he wondered to himself.

Since Elara had classes and other plans for the day, Barrett signaled the staff to show Asher and Jefferson out

After breakfast, Elara left the house, where the driver was already waiting for her in the courtyard.

As she slid into the car and it started pulling away, she glanced back to see Asher still standing there, his father by his side. And then, out of nowhere, Jefferson-who had been so polite indoors-raised his hand and slapped Asher across the face. Elara knew Asher's story all too well.

Jefferson was a gambling addict, and it had gotten so bad that Asher's mom had walked out. From then on, Asher had lived with him, scrapping together money for school from relatives who probably didn't give a damn.

As soon as he was old enough, he started supporting himself. And despite all that, the guy was brilliant-always ranking at the top of his class.

That was why Elara had always had a soft spot for him. She had gone out of her way to try to make his life easier, doing whatever she could to help.

But the truth was that he didn't give a damn about her. He never had. She was just convenient, someone he could use. The girl he actually cared about was never her.

Elara glanced away, rolling her eyes, and made her way to school.

After yesterday's chaos, she could feel the shift in her classmates vibe. They were acting way friendlier, some even trying to strike up a conversation.

One girl sauntered over with a sly grin. "Hey, Elara, word is your family's rolling in it. Is it true you've been bankrolling Asher? We all thought he was, like, secretly loaded"

tak pot is and wo together by now?

tvu potband

The

mpestup.

stage with class and a sofa bells piped up. "You should give someone else a shot-like me. I wow wow bush Asher

Asal Sales and by bus an kanst attenju.

awkw

News the comt all sacer

boo.

Gigasto e vertet Aber wasted "Yen Neep dreaming. But hey, not like she even notices you Cemal

w It vous achatovy youll have to wait out dam tu

They were

TAKA

ade everyone instantly look at Blara, curiosity sparking like wildfire.

she was ine now base, honestly, in their minds, nobody in this school could top Asher.

wat hy thanks his smarts and looks still had everyone convinced he was going places

Ard the bar and him

A mht what reser And

asin

king eves with Elara. His voice stripped with sans as as he said. "You've been trailing that he told you it's not gonna happen, this is your big play Flata Kensington, no tance what bush you pull Ill never be me you A gul with trash grades who leans on her family's money to get noticed? You're not even us the same longue as Daphne

The seed he bight up her grades the mood suited

Dvere was reminded of laras acadentic reputation-sure, she had money, but brains? Not so much.

Pople saw her as nothing more than Asher's groupie with a family tortune to hide behind. Given her lackluster school performance, it seemed obvious to everyone why Asher would pass her up without a second thought