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.

……

Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got to

thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in

of the

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

a shower, changed into

food to the dining

he had breakfast?” Avery

Elliot hasn’t come

up her glass of milk and a

was done eating in under

afraid of

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

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

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

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

her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll

Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs.

not

driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll

ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said,

bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at

It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into

said, “Is it because of

said, “Actually, I never

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

Avery was taken aback.

mother of what had happened with

only knew that she was dating someone but had no idea who

like to have someone completely destroy your

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

off depending on myself than a man,”

heartbreak to grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break,

shook her head and said, “I just hope I can take care of myself after

know who’s at top of the class

cheeks flushed at

Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to have

instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

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

still remembered the