After Death, Love Unveiled (Elara and Lysander)

Chapter

23

This was the brutal truth Asher had laid bare to Elara, right there on her deathbed.

She never realized that the love she'd given so completely was the very thing that disgusted him. What she had cherished with every piece of her heart was nothing more than a burden he couldn't wait to shake off. Asher hesitated, a frown tugging at his brow as he took in her words. "I never said that!" he shot back, almost reflexively. But even as he spoke, he couldn't remember ever being so heartless-at least, not out loud. Elara wasn't fooled. He might not have said it straight to her face, but actions spoke louder than words.

A bitter smile twisted her lips. "You didn't have to say it, Asher. You made it pretty damn clear. Always looking at me like I was some kind of inconvenience. If that wasn't true, then why the hell were you always running off to Daphne? Giving her things that belonged to me, treating her like she was something special, while I was.... I was nothing but a piece of the furniture?"

Her voice trembled, and before she could choke it back, the tears spilled over, hot and relentless, streaking down her face.

Whatever affection she'd once felt for him had burned to ashes, leaving nothing but bitterness and spite. After everything she'd suffered, there was no space left for love-only hate.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

She'd died and clawed her way back in time; there was no way she'd waste a second chance on him.

Before she'd been given this do-over, she'd spent her life practically begging for the smallest bit of his affection, stupidly hoping he'd give a damn, even just a little. And in the end, all she got was heartache and an ugly death

Every time the memory came back, it was like a blade twisting in her chest. The grief surged over her, crashing like waves that refused to recede.

If not for this second shot at life, she'd still be that pitiful, abandoned Elara, stuck in that rundown apartment, with nothing but her loneliness.

The thought alone made her eyes sting all over again.

Asher stared at her tear-streaked face, something unsettling twisting in his gut. He'd come here pissed, fuming over how cozy she'd seemed with Lysander.

But now, he saw something in her eyes that rattled him-an anguish that cut deeper than he expected.

He'd never loved her. He'd always preferred Daphne. That much he couldn't deny. But seeing the raw hurt in Elara's gaze, he couldn't help but wonder, 'Did I really hurt her that bad?"

He exhaled a rough breath. "I just didn't want to get tangled up in... feelings. Even as he spoke, she could hear how pathetic the excuse sounded.

Elara wiped at her tears, her voice gaining strength. "I get it. You didn't want me. You and Daphne-you're the perfect fit, right? So, if I'm with Lysander or anyone else, why would it bother you?"

He hesitated, the words stumbling out. "Elara. I—"

But she didn't give him the chance to finish. The resolve in her voice was sharp, slicing through whatever apology he was trying to muster.

Just then, Daphne made her appearance at the top of the stairs, with Lizzie not far behind. Her eyes flicked between Elara and Asher, taking in the sight of his hand still gripping Elara's like he didn't know what to do with it. Daphne's presence seemed to snap something inside Asher, and he dropped Elara's hand as if it burned.

Elara's lips curled into a bitter smirk. 'Right. Can't forget Daphne's your girl now. huh? she thought.

Thinking about whatever she could even call her "thing" with Lysander. Asher couldn't shake a sense of unease-especially now that his "safety net had slipped right through his fingers.

But Elara knew well that, deep down, Asher's heart was locked on Daphne

Elara dipped her head and put on a hurt voice. "You've got a girlfriend now, so you really shouldn't be coming around looking

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for me anymore. We wouldn't want Daphne getting the wrong idea, would we?"

With that, she spun around and headed downstairs, wiping away her tears the second she turned her back.

She wasn't about to waste any real tears over a guy like him-those were just part of the show,

Before she'd time-traveled back, he had toyed with her just like this, and this time around, she planned to give him a taste of his own damn medicine. Just when he thought there was a chance, she'd let him think she still gave a damn. After Elara walked out, Daphne came down, concern written all over her face. "What happened? I thought I saw her crying.

Asher stood there, silent for a moment, then muttered. T'm heading back."

His mind was a total mess, and he had no idea how to explain any of this to Daphine. Elara's attitude caught him off guard-it hit him that she might still have feelings for him. "Did I push her away by being so cold? Is that why she ran off to Lysander? Shit, maybe I shouldn't have told her about Daphne and me... He felt a sting of regret.

When Elara stepped out of the school gates, she immediately spotted Lysander waiting for her. He was decked out in Oakridge High School's uniform, looking sharp. Next to him stood Crispin, the two of them waiting for her to show up. As soon as Crispin spotted her, he elbowed Lysander and called out, "Hey, she's here! Lysander turned at the sound, his gaze softening as it landed on Elara.

A crowd had gathered by the gates-students who knew him as the basketball star, now seeing a different side of him.

Crispin's uniform looked a bit beat-up, covered in scribbles and wear, but somehow Lysander made the same uniform look like it was designer.

As soon as he saw Elara. Lysander walked up and took her bag with the ease of a gentleman. Every move he made screamed. that he cared-not because she asked him to, but because he wanted to..

Lysander seemed unfazed by the eyes on them, focusing entirely on Elara as he asked in a low, warm voice, "How about we grab something to eat first?"

Elara's face brightened as she nodded, "Sure!" Asher wasn't even a second thought anymore he wasn't worth the energy.

Crispin greeted her with a wide grin. "Hey, Elara!"

She shot him a side-eye and rolled her eyes. He quickly tried to recover with a sheepish smile. "Look, I was a complete ass before, okay? I know that. Don't hold it against me, alright?"

With him groveling like that, Elara decided not to waste her breath on him. She turned to Lysander, a hint of annoyance in her voice, "You're friends with this guy?"

Lysander glanced over at Crispin with a smirk and replied, "Nah, not really."

Crispin looked like he'd been punched in the gut. "Wait, seriously? Am I not even good enough to be your friend now?' he thought. He then quickly tried to backtrack. "Hey, don't say that! It's my fault I'm sorry, alright?" Elara shot him a withering glare. "You were the one who started spreading that crap right to my face-calling me some sugar baby. Don't think I've forgotten that."

Crispin's face went pale as he stammered, "I know, I know! I was a complete idiot! It was all just some crap I read online! I'll find out who started it and make them pay for it, I swear!"

Just then, the Hawthorne family car pulled up. Ignoring Crispin's desperate attempts to apologize. Lysander opened the door for Elara, saying simply, "Get in.

Crispin waved after them awkwardly as they got in. "Alright, alright, I won't keep you! See you around! All the best to both of

you!"

Elara couldn't help but smirk at his awkward send-off. Lysander shut the window and chuckled. "Ignore him. He's a nobody." Chapes ex

Elava camions glad over at him "Didn't expect you to know a guy like that"

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Lysander stugged, bau kling her seatbelt with care. We just play basketball together sometimes. That's about it?

At the mention of basketball, Elata's eyes lit up with admiration "Lysander, you were on fire out there today! You scored so mush. When boked like he was ready to lose his shit! Lysander shot her a socky gim. Well what can I say? He just couldn't keep up"