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.

……

was because of the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got

took out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it,

herself of the chill from

the next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she was in relatively good

shower, changed into

dining room, and Mrs.

had breakfast?” Avery

Master Elliot hasn’t

Avery picked up her glass of milk and a

was done eating in under five

you that afraid of

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

a little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will

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

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

“It’s fine. I’ll just take a cab.

for the odd jobs. I’ll

could not win

said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my own way home

off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her

bump in her best friend Tammy

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

it because of your family? I heard about

I never really wanted to go to graduate

right?”

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of

that she was dating someone but had no

“Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world, but he was nothing but human

eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned.

myself

love-struck

hope I can take

know who’s at top of the class in both

cheeks flushed at

the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together.

they arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed

that the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is he

still remembered