After Death, Love Unveiled (Elara and Lysander)

Elara stared at Lysander. "Why don't you just marry Asher?"novelbin

Lysander froze, his gaze fixed on her. "Why would I do that?"

"You seem to like him so much," she replied, glaring at him. "Playing with him is one thing, but then you come back and take it out on me."

"I don't like him," Lysander clarified. "I just can't stand him. And I was being pretty polite today."

"Yeah? Then why do you come home and give me attitude?" she asked.

"I wasn't giving you attitude," he denied,

Elara raised an eyebrow at his sulky expression. "Then what's with making me say I love you?"

Lysander looked at her seriously. "So, you're not going to say it?"

"Because whether I say it or not, the fact that I love you is undeniable," she said firmly.

Hearing that, Lysander rolled over. "Go to sleep." But as he lay flat on his back, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his li before he quickly suppressed it. Elara was speechless. He'd badgered her for ages, and now he just wanted to saying anything in return. Is he

sleep witho messing with me?' she wondered.

"You're not going to say anything? You make me say it, and then you don't respond? Lysander, are you teasing me?" she shouted. "Aren't you tired?" he asked flatly.

"Forget it," Elara muttered, deciding not to bother with him. She wasn't as petty as he was, obsessing over declarations of love all day.

Since Lysander had woken her up, she couldn't sleep. Lying beside him, she watched him. The more she looked, the harder it was not to laugh.

No one would've thought that this towering figure, a four-star general, strict to the core with his subordinates, could have such a lovesick side.

*****

The next day, because Lysander had work in the city, he and Elara left the resort and returned. Juan and Crispin were also there, while Asher and Adair hadn't left yet.

At that moment, Adair was standing in front of Juan, talking to her. "Will you ever be able to stand again?" Adair asked bluntly.

Juan's lips tightened. "That's none of your business."

Crispin stepped in, glaring at Adair. "Adair, you've gone too far."

"What?" Adair asked. "I'm just concerned for her."

"That's concern?" Crispin could see through her act. She was deliberately provoking Juan.

"I'm just not good at expressing myself. How is that my fault?" Adair said. Anger filled her during this trip. She had no way of

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dealing with Lysander and Elara, but she could still pick on someone weaker.

Besides, it wasn't like Lysander cared about Juan. Crispin glared at her, his anger barely contained. "I swear, I'll hit you if you don't shut up."

"Do you dare?" Adair sneered. Crispin wasn't someone she feared. Their families had once discussed an alliance, and she knew he wouldn't risk offending her.

No matter what, their parents were close. If Crispin dared lay a finger on her, he might as well not go

Crispin stared at her smug expression. "Only Mr. Blackwood could put up with you."

home.

Meanwhile, Asher stood at a distance, watching as Lysander and Elara emerged together. Lysander carried her bag, and she, in her elegant dress and radiant beauty, looked stunning. Back then, when Elara liked him, Asher thought she wasn't special at all, just a pretty face with no brains. At the time, he thought Daphne was far more attractive.

But now, looking at Elara, it felt like no woman in the world could compare. Noticing Asher's dazed expression as he stared at Elara, Adair tugged on his sleeve. "You're staring at her again."

Crispin shot Asher a disdainful look. "If you keep staring at Elara, I'll gouge your eyes out." Apparently, Asher still hadn't learned his lesson.

Feeling their gazes on him, Asher's expression darkened, but he said nothing. Elara walked over and turned to Juan. "We're heading back now."

Juan nodded. "Alright." Juan's face was pale, clearly uncomfortable in Adair's presence.

Elara lifted her gaze, landing on Adair. "Did you just bully Juan?"

Adair, confronted, denied it outright. "No. And so what if I did? I just don't like her."

"Adair," Elara said with a calm yet pointed tone. "You should really work on your character. Otherwise, don't blame me if I go home and tattle on you. If Zavala hears about you bullying others, she might be very eager to discipline you." Adair sneered. "Is that all you can do? Tattling?"

Got a problem?" Elara shot back nonchalantly.

"You..." Adair stared at her, speechless.

""Professional tatt

pushed too far,

When she spotted Lysander approaching, Adair thought better of giving up. It was obvious Elara was protected, and if she would certainly step in. Turning on her heel, Adair got into the car. Asher broke the

silence. "I'll head back too. Mr. Hawthorne, see you."

Asher addressed Lysander but deliberately ignored Elara. He knew Lysander didn't like him interacting with her and had no intention of crossing that line.

Two days later, Elara and Lysander returned to Starfield City. The moment they got out of the car, Wyatt called, inviting them over for a family dinner. Saying it'd be nice for everyone to catch up, he insisted they come by. Their driver redirected them to the Hawthorne family residence As soon as Elara stepped inside, she noticed Felicity sitting on the couch.

Draped in a blanket, Felicity still looked frail. Having recently been discharged from the hospital, her health remained

precarious, prone to sudden changes.

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Elara was surprised to see her. She thought Felicity had gone back to her family. 'Could Lysander have been right after all?' she wondered.

Walking over, Elara greeted her. "Hi, Mrs. Hawthorne, you're back?"

Felicity looked up, her gaze landing softly on Elara. She nodded. "Yes. Did you go on a little trip?"

"Yeah," Elara replied. "Spent a couple of days out."

"That's nice," Felicity said wistfully.

Elara glanced around. "Where's Mr. Hawthorne?"

"Upstairs, I think," Felicity replied.

Lysander chimed in, "I'll go check on him," and headed up the stairs.

He was used to Elara and Felicity chatting away for long and didn't feel the need to join in.

Once Lysander was out of sight, Elara sat down next to Felicity. "You and Mr. Hawthorne..." she began cautiously. Felicity let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "I told him I wanted a divorce. Do you know what he said?" "What did he say?" Elara asked.

"He thinks I'm being dramatic. He didn't even take me seriously. He told me to stop making a fuss and invited you over, hoping you'd talk me out of it and cheer me up since we've grown close recently," said Felicity. Elara hesitated, unsure how to respond. She supported Felicity's decision to divorce, but only if it was what Felicity truly wanted. It wasn't her place to push Felicity into a decision without considering the bigger picture. Leaving the Hawthorne family wasn't necessarily all good. It came with its losses. After all, being Wyatt's wife was something would covet.

Felicity sighed. "You know, it's strange. This time, when I saw him, I felt nothing. For the first time, I realized he's just... ordinary. It was the rose-colored glasses I used to wear that made me love him so much. "But now, every time I look at him, all I can think about is how, when I was sick, he didn't even bother to check on me."

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