After Death, Love Unveiled (Elara and Lysander)

Chapter

272

The day Daphne learned about Asher's death, she worked as a recycler. She had heard about his imprisonment but believed he would eventually be released. She had always held onto the idea that he would return once free to take her away.

After all, he'd done it so many times before. Even when he went to prison, he'd pushed her away to protect her, which, to her, proved that he must have loved her. Since they parted ways, these thoughts had never left her mind. "Daphne Wagner!" As she sorted through cardboard boxes, that annoying voice rang out again.

Daphne didn't respond, pretending she hadn't heard. However, the other person wasn't planning to let her off. Seeing that Daphne ignored her, Jacqueline grabbed her by the hair. "I'm talking to you! Why are you ignoring me? What, now that you're the CEO's wife, you think you're too good for me?"

Knowing that Asher was in prison and that Daphne had nowhere to go, Jacqueline, bored out of her mind, would often come over to stir up trouble for Daphne.

It was because Daphne had always acted arrogantly while at QuickClip, looking down on Jacqueline for no reason, making her suffer for even the most minor things. Soon enough, Daphne found herself crushed under Jacqueline's heel.

Daphne was no longer surprised by such scenes. When Jacqueline noticed she wasn't responding, she feared Daphne might be dead and ordered someone to lift her.

As they grabbed her arms, Daphne looked at Jacqueline with a hint of helplessness. "Jacqueline, after all these years, what exactly do you want from me? When will you finally let me go?"

"Let you go?" Jacqueline pressed her lips together. "Daphne, weren't you always so capable? And now you've ended up working at a recycling station? Is this really how you imagined things turning out?"

Daphne kept a stern expression. She hadn't wanted to end up in a place like this either, but news of her health status had spread ever since she divorced Asher. No company would hire her; they had decided to leave her with no way out.

In the end, she found herself in this situation. But Daphne would never give up. She believed she could wait for Asher to be released as long as she was alive. He would surely come to take her away.

Jacqueline looked at Daphne with a sneer. "Are you still hoping that Asher will come looking for you?"

"He always loved me!" Daphne said, her eyes reddened.

"He won't come for you!" Jacqueline said coldly. "He is dead."

Daphne looked at Jacqueline in disbelief. "No way... How could he be dead?"

"How could he die?" Jacqueline laughed. "Of course, it's because of you! I heard you pass him the virus! You're truly vicious- didn't even spare your husband. Back then, you had nothing, and Asher chose you, gave up Adair, and married you. And look how it ended. He must be dying in regret!"

"He wouldn't die if he gets proper treatment. How could it happen so suddenly?"

"Not everyone is like you." Jacqueline sneered and continued, "You even managed to get Asher killed. Are you happy now? Didn't you always say you were a good person? A good person who ended up causing Asher's death! I wonder if you'll ever be able to sleep peacefully again."

After Jacqueline and her group left, Daphne sat nearby on a cardboard box, replaying Jacqueline's words about Asher's death.

Daphne thought, 'Did he die, for real?

Snapping out of her thoughts, Daphne went to the Linde family home. She had been there many times, hoping to learn

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more about Asher. When Daphine saw Dana leaving in a car, Daphne quickly stopped her. "Violet," she called out.

It had been several years, and Dana had changed a lot. Since Asher's imprisonment, she has taken over the company and learned many new things. She was no longer the naive person she used to be, someone who knew little about the world.

When Dana saw Daphne appear, her expression turned cold. "It" you," she said sharply.

"Is it true? Asher passed away?" Daphne asked.

At the mention of the matter, Dana's gaze grew colder. She had been busy handling this issue for the past few days. Elara had done her a favor, and when Elara called to inform her about Asher, Dana knew she had to take action, although Dana knew what these two had done to her in the

past.

Seeing Daphne ask about Asher, Dana nodded. "Yes," she replied

"Can you let me see him? I can't believe he's gone," Daphne said.

"Asher probably wouldn't want to see you," Dana replied coldly. "He left instructions that no work or money should be given to you from now on. He hated you."

"Impossible!" Daphne exclaimed. "He wouldn't be so cruel to me! He definitely would want to see me. Can I at least say goodbye to him?"

Dana replied coldly, "His funeral is on Saturday. You can come, but you know how much my mother hates you

Whenever Daphne appeared, Edith couldn't help but feel'a surge of hatred towards her. After all, Daphne had nearly handed Dana over to someone else. Every time Edith thought about it, she felt an overwhelming urge to tear Daphne apart. Daphne had been here before, and Edith's attitude had always been the same. Despite that, Daphne returned, gathered herself, and attended Asher's funeral.

For the past few years, she had been in Starfield City. Her father had an accident while working at the factory and lost one of his legs. As for her mother, she had fallen ill and needed medical treatment every month.

When she was with Asher, she could still send money home, but since their divorce, she couldn't even take care of herself, let alone her family.

Her mother had always believed it was her fault. They wouldn't have lost all their savings if she hadn't worn Natalie's clothes back at the Jarvis family. If she hadn't offended Jacqueline, she wouldn't have struggled to find a job after graduation.

Her family had invested so many years in raising her, and now, with how she turned out, she felt she had no face to return home. Even Asher, the only man she had ever known, the one she could always manipulate, passed away. Daphne couldn't bring herself to face Edith. Instead, she kept her distance, watching from afar. It wasn't until she saw Elara and Lysander that she allowed herself to take a breath.

Back in school, nothing about Elara made her seem exceptional. Yet now, whenever she saw Elara, there was an overwhelming sense of inferiority. Elara always carried herself as if she were someone unattainable, someone out of reach.

As they were about to leave, Daphne couldn't help but approach Elara. After all, aside from Asher, she didn't know anyone else who might be willing to fulfill such a request. "Elara, could you lend me some money?" Daphne asked.

She thought, 'Her family is so wealthy, and I'm desperate now. It shouldn't be a problem for her to lend me some money, right? I've heard Elara often do charity work! Someone like her, who casually donates millions of dollars, surely wouldn't hesitate to give me a little! To her surprise, Elara simply coldly refused. She even said they weren't close enough for her to help.

"Daphne Wagner!" As Elara and Lysander were about to leave, Daphne tried to catch up and say something, but Edith

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appeared just in time.

She turned around and saw Edith, who, with a cold expression, immediately slapped her. Over the years, Daphne's life had been difficult, and she hadn't been eating well. Her already fragile body couldn't withstand the blow, and she collapsed to the ground from the force of the slap.

Daphne lifted her head, staring at Edith. "You slapped me?"

"If Asher hadn't married you back then, he wouldn't have ended up like this. It's all your fault! And you still dare to show up here! Now he's dead, and yet you're still alive-how blind it is!"

"And what about you?" Daphne stared at Edith coldly. "Why did he die? Isn't it because of you? I heard you even tried to have him be kept by someone else. Is that true?"

Dana stood quietly by, hearing Daphne's words. She glanced at Edith, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. Edith had always kept family matters hidden, protecting her from the darker truths. She never imagined there were things like this-no wonder Asher always seemed to act strangely toward Edith.

Daphne looked at her with defiance, her voice sharp. "You're still alive, so why can't I be?" Daphne said and walked out the door.

Tears welled as she thought about the days she had spent with Asher. The light was red at the intersection, but she didn't pay attention. She walked right through it, and a speeding car rushed towards her. Her body was thrown into the air, landing heavily on the ground. Daphne recalled the days she had spent with Asher, remembering how, despite having nothing, he had given her everything. Back then, they were both so young. She knew, deep down, that after that, he had never truly loved her again