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.

……

head felt heavy by the

thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell into a deep

herself of the chill from

Avery woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a

into clean clothes, and

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

he had breakfast?”

Elliot hasn’t

milk and a piece of toast, then began to wolf down her

was done eating in

you that afraid of

not afraid… I just don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then

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

I have something to do on campus today, so I

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

stopped her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a

the odd jobs. I’ll

not win

on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank

a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said,

in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy,

her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I

“Actually, I never

you’re thinking 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 happened

she was dating someone

it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man

arm 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

off depending on myself

love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady

head and said, “I just hope I can take care

the class in both majors. The

cheeks flushed at the

evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They

arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia

Isn’t that the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning?

remembered