When His Eyes Opened

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.

……

Avery’s head felt

from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell

night, ridding herself of the

aside from feeling

took a shower, changed into

smell of food to the dining room,

he had breakfast?” Avery

hasn’t

this, Avery picked up her glass of milk and a

eating

afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing him makes

time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you

do on campus today,

Cooper said. She

said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a

for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take

could not win

to the driver and said, “Thank you. You

driver drove off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who

did not expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate school

“Is it because of your family? I heard about your

“Actually, I never really wanted to

of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going to introduce

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what had

classmates only knew that she was dating

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

that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson

better off depending on myself than a man,”

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

her head and said, “I just hope I can take care of myself after

You’re the only double major I know who’s at top of the class in both

flushed

the campus together. They had planned to

at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

off this morning?

remembered the