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.

……

the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got to her

the closet, wrapped herself

ridding herself of the chill from the night

up the next morning, aside from feeling a

changed into clean

dining room, and Mrs. Cooper

had breakfast?” Avery

Master Elliot hasn’t come

and a piece of toast,

done eating

that afraid of him,

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

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

campus today, so I won’t be having dinner

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

said, “It’s fine. I’ll just

have two drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other

could not win against

“Thank you. You

young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on

did not expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch

a cutie. It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy,

her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m so

and said, “Actually, I never really wanted to go to graduate

know, you’re thinking of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of

and classmates only knew that she was dating someone but

“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

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 even better

myself than a man,” Avery

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

and said, “I just hope I

major I know who’s at top of the

cheeks flushed

the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is he here to pick

still remembered the