After Death, Love Unveiled (Elara and Lysander)

Elara gave a quick, firm nod. Fine, I'm not going. With that, she walked straight to her seat, like Aslier's request hadn't even registered. She brushed it off like it was nothing.

Lizzie Collins, Daphine's seatmate, couldn't hold back any longer. She stood up, ready to defend her friend. "What the hell, Elara? It's just a quick trip to grab some medicine. You seriously can't manage that?" Her tone was sharp, frustration boiling over. She added with a sneer, "If it's so easy, why don't you go now? Aren't you supposed to be friends with Dapline?"

Elara didn't flinch, just gave her a cold, indifferent look without saying a word.

But Lizzie wasn't done. She pressed on, confidence growing. "This is your problem, not mine! Why the hell should I do u?"

"My problem?" Elara's lips curled into a faint, sarcastic smile. "And why exactly is that? We're not related, Why should I be the one buying her medicine?"

She scoffed inwardly, remembering how back in her world, no one had ever given a damn about her when she was sick.

Lizzie jabbed a finger at Elara. "You work for Asher's family, not me! Isn't it your job to take care of his girlfriend?"

Elara's gaze shifted to Asher, her tone icy. "Asher, are you telling people I'm some kind of servant at your house?

Asher shifted uncomfortably under her sharp stare. The rumors had been around for a while-people saw him getting driven around in fancy cars every day, and he'd never bothered to correct them.

It was easier to let them believe the lie than admit his dad was just a driver and he was nothing more than the driver's son in Elara's houschakl

Worried this was about to spiral out of control. Asher quickly stepped in, trying to calin things down. He leaned toward Elara and muttered. "It's fine, Elara. If you didn't buy it, I'll take care of it later."

He knew her well enough to understand why she didn't want to run errands for Daphne. Elara was fiercely independent, and asking her to do something like this wasn't going to fly.

Trying to shift the conversation, Asher gave her a casual look. "Did you at least grab the food?"

He'd heard from classmates that she'd picked up two meals earlier. He figured if he gave one to Daphne, that would smooth things over. Besides, he doubted Elara would let him go hungry just to make a point.. Elara Kensington replied calmly. "I've already eaten them"

"What? You ate both portions? Asher's voice was full of disbelief.

Elara just gave a slight nod. "Yeah."

Hearing this, the students in the front row glared at her in disgust. "What the hell? You really ate both? What are you, a pig?"

These were Asher's usual gang, and they never liked her. Before her time travel, Elara always tried to keep the peace since they were Asher's friends. She didn't want to piss off anyone close to him, hoping they might say something nice about her one day. But now s dime

she realized she'd been playing it way too safe. In fact, every time Asher treated his friends to a meal, it was on her

Completely unfazed, Elara shot back. "It's my money. Whether I eat two portions or twenty, that's none of your damn business."

The front row students looked pissed, whispering to each other. "Her money? Who's she kidding? Isn't she living off Asher's family?

Elara couldn't care less about their gossip, but Asher was already fuming. Seeing her sitting there, not giving a damn about leaving him hungry, was just adding fuel to the fire.

"Elara Kensington, you're just doing this to piss me off. Let's see how long you can keep this up," he said, his voice tight with anger.

within hours. But now, her defiance was something new, and it rattled him.

This time, he thought, 'even if she begs, I won't make it easy for her

0

Elara gave a quick, firm nod. "Fine. I'm not going." With that, she walked straight to her seat, like Asher's request hadn't even registered. She brushed it off like it was nothing.

Lizzie Collins, Daphne's seatmate, couldn't hold back any longer. She stood up, ready to defend her friend. "What the hell. Elara! It's just a quick trip to grab some medicine. You seriously can't manage that?"

Her tone was sharp, frustration boiling over. She added with a sneer, "If it's so easy, why don't you go now? Aren't you supposed to be friends with Daphne?"

Elara didn't flinch, just gave her a cold, indifferent look without saying a word.

But Lizzie wasn't done. She pressed on, confidence growing. "This is your problem, not mine! Why the hell should I do it?

"My problem?" Elara's lips curled into a faint, sarcastic smile. "And why exactly is that? We're not related. Why should I be the one buying her medicine?"

She scoffed inwardly, remembering how back in her world, no one had ever given a damn about her when she was sick.

Lizzie jabbed a finger at Elara. "You work for Asher's family, not me! Isn't it your job to take care of his girlfriend!"

Elara's gaze shifted to Asher, her tone icy. "Asher, are you telling people I'm some kind of servant at your house?"

Asher shifted uncomfortably under her sharp stare. The rumors had been around for a while-people saw him getting driven around in fancy cars every day, and he'd never bothered to correct them.

It was easier to let them believe the lie than admit his dad was just a driver and he was nothing more than the driver's son in Elara's household.

Worried this was about to spiral out of control, Asher quickly stepped in, trying to calm things down. He leaned toward Elara and muttered. "It's fine, Elara. If you didn't buy it, I'll take care of it later."

He knew her well enough to understand why she didn't want to run errands for Daphne. Elara was fiercely independent, and asking her to do something like this wasn't going to fly.

Trying to shift the conversation, Asher gave her a casual look. "Did you at least grab the food?"

He'd heard from classmates that she'd picked up two meals earlier. He figured if he gave one to Daphne, that would smooth. things over. Besides, he doubted Elara would let him go hungry just to make a point

Elara Kensington replied calmly. Tve already eaten them"

What? You are both portions?" Asher's voice was full of disbelief.

Elara just gave a slight nod. "Yeah."

Hearing this, the students in the front row glared at her in disgust. "What the hell? You really ate both? What are you,

you, a pig?"

These were Asher's usual gang, and they never liked her. Before her time travel, Elara always tried to keep the peace since they were Asher's friends. She didn't want to piss off anyone close to him, hoping they might say something nice about her one day. But now she realized she'd been playing it way too safe. In fact, every time Asher treated his friends to a meal, it was on her dime.

Completely unfazed, Elara shot back, "It's my money. Whether I eat two portions or twenty, that's none of your damn business."

The front row students looked pissed, whispering to each other. "Her money? Who's she kidding? Isn't she living off Asher's family?"

Elara couldn't care less about their gossip, but Asher was already fuming. Seeing her sitting there, not giving a damn about leaving him hungry, was just adding fuel to the fire.

"Elara Kensington, you're just doing this to piss me off. Let's see how long you can keep this up," he said, his voice tight with

anger.

up

Without waiting for her response, he stood ugs aboupily, grabbed his soft, and murned in Ice, wht was ing best ta Daphne "We're switching seats, ut sit with her

This was Asher's go-to move when he was madreting to so with ha

take, supposedly so he could help her study

But looking back. Flara realized he never actually tutores her. It was always about making her do hivolity work

He thought keeping her distance would keep her under control, but Elara seemed to give a damn

Now, with his stomach growling and Daphne looking sick next to hum, Asher's mood darkened even more He gained at Elara, sitting by the window like she didn't have a care in the world.

This time, he thought, when she comes cradling back to apologize, she's gonna pay for it!

The Maybach that had come to pick up Elara glided smoothly to the school gate just as classes let out. As sang as she stepped outside, she spotted Asher and Daphne already lounging inside, looking soulig an Elara picked up her pace, heading straight for the car.

It felt like the entire school was watching. Everyone knew she had crossed Asher, and they were practically healing their breath, waiting to see what would happen.

As she walked, the whispers and sneers started around her.

"I thought she cut Asher off for good!"

"She's such a suck-up. People like her never change."

"Asher's way too soft. If it were me, I'd have kicked a servant's daughter like her to the curb ages ago!"

Elara ignored the cutting remarks, keeping her head high and forcing a smile as she approached.

She glanced at the two shameless" people in the car, about to say something, but Asher spoke first. "Didn't you say you weren't coming home with me?"

For a moment, Elara was dumbfounded, thinking, I've seen shameless, but this guy takes the fucking crown!

She took a deep breath, then fired back. "I said I wasn't going home with you. I never said you could take my family's car!

Asher paused, realization hitting him-yeah, the car did belong to Elara's family.

Seeing her clearly pissed-off expression, he was honestly confused. What the hell is her problem today? She is the one who let him use the car, and now she is flipping out? he wondered.

Jefferson Blackwood, the driver, quickly jumped in to defuse the situation. "Elara, just get in the car! Why are you getting mad. at Mr. Blackwood?" He shot Asher a glance, clearly telling him to dial it back. Asher, pretending to be generous, said. "Alright, fine. Get in. I'll let it slide this time. I'm giving you another chance."

Used to her normally obedient attitude, he figured it wasn't worth the fight this time.

Elara almost laughed out loud in disbelief. Asher, why the hell would I need another chance from you? Get your girlfriend and get the hell out of my car!"

'Another chance? Are you fucking kidding me? she thought, barely containing her rage. And what made it worse was Jefferson calling him "Mr. Blackwood while treating her like she was nothing more than a maid. The students standing nearby were stunned, whispering to each other,

"Did Elara just talk back to Asher? Seriously?

"Right? Asher's been more than generous with her, and she's still acting like this?"

"Asher should just dump her ass. This is getting embarrassing."

Nobody could figure out what had gotten into Elara that day, but one thing was clear-she wasnt playing along with anyone blish anymore

Asher's face darkened. "The you really have to be so damn stubborn Ive already decided to let go of what happened earlier and forgive you. Elara, are you seriously tryna turn this into a bigger deal?" Elars anapped back her tone unwavering. From now on, you're not getting in my car. Ever