When His Eyes Opened By Simple Silence

Chapter 17

The car sped past Avery, leaving a trail of dust.

She lifted her head and saw the blurry tail lights of the Rolls-Roice in the darkness.

Was that Elliot’s car?

She wiped the tears off her face, calmed herself down, and walked toward the house.

She saw the car parked in the courtyard when she arrived.

She waited outside in hopes of going in after Elliot had gone to his room.

Her eyes stung. She looked up at the stars shining brightly in the night sky.

It was a beautiful spring night.

Before she knew it, she had been standing outside for an hour.

The driver had already moved the car into the garage.

The lights in the living room were still on, but there was nobody in sight.

Avery felt normal, so she walked slowly into the house.

On the veranda on the second floor, Elliot, dressed in a grey robe, was sitting in his wheelchair. The last dregs of wine sat at the bottom of his wine glass.

He had watched Avery the entire hour that she had stood outside in the cold.

He could not figure out the thoughts that would lead her to spend an entire hour out in the cold. She was so still that she could have easily blended in with the trees that stood next to her.

Elliot had met countless intelligent minds in his lifetime because they were the only people worthy enough to stand by his side.

However, Avery was an exception.

He did not consider her bright because she had provoked him despite knowing what kind of man he was.

She was an extremely foolish woman.

Seeing her miserable, however, affected his mood in a peculiar way.

It was a feeling that he had never felt before.

……

it was because of the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by

blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it,

night, ridding herself of the chill from the

woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she was

shower, changed into clean

followed the smell of food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper

had

Elliot hasn’t

up her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began

was done eating

of

to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing him

after spending a little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you be coming home for

today, so I won’t be having dinner at home

driver to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending

I’ll just take a cab. He can have the

two drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,” said

could not win

and said, “Thank

to Avery, tapped her on

expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I

stopped in her tracks and said, “Is it because of your

“Actually, I never really

boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother of what had happened

and classmates only knew that she was

Avery said. She then took a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust?

around Avery’s waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned. You’ll definitely meet someone

better off depending on myself than a man,” Avery

go through some heartbreak to grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look

and said, “I just hope I can

top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone like you!”

flushed at

in the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They

instantly pointed at the Portia parked

Mr. Portia who dropped you off

remembered