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

closet, wrapped

herself of the chill from the night

aside from feeling a little sticky, she

took a shower, changed into clean

dining room,

he had

Master Elliot hasn’t come down

of milk and a piece of toast, then began to

done eating in under five

that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

Avery said, then lifted her

little more time together,”

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

Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending

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

one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,”

could not

Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my own

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

to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to

as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate school with

it because of your family? I heard about your

smile and said, “Actually, I never

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

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother

was dating someone but had

up,” Avery said. She then took a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought

placed her 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

depending on myself than a man,” Avery

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

hope I

double major I know who’s at top of the class in

cheeks flushed at

evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus

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

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

still remembered