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 to her

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

ridding herself of the chill from the

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

into clean

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

he had

Master Elliot hasn’t

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

eating in under

afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin

time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will

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

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

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

One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one

not win against

on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back

young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who was that

expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be

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

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

“Actually, I

of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of what had happened with

she was dating

to have someone

red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it

off depending on myself

need to go through some heartbreak to grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but

hope I can

course! You’re the only double major I know who’s at top of the

flushed at the

the campus together. They had planned

instantly pointed

you off this morning?

remembered