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.

……

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

from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and

of the

next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she was

into clean clothes, and went

the dining

he had

Elliot hasn’t come down

picked up her glass of milk and a piece of toast,

done eating

of

him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin

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

something to do on campus today, so I won’t be having

there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending

and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a cab. He can have the

for the odd jobs.

could not win against

they had arrived on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can

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

expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch

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

and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard about

I

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

Avery was taken aback.

mother

and classmates only knew that she was dating someone but had

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

waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a

on myself than a man,” Avery

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

and said, “I just hope I can take

top of the

cheeks flushed at

left the campus together. They

instantly pointed

off this morning?

still remembered the