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.

……

but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she

took out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped

herself of

morning, aside from feeling a

took a shower, changed into

to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately served

he had

hasn’t

her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began to

eating

that afraid of him, Madam?”

want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing

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

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

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

I’ll just take a

the odd jobs. I’ll

could not

had arrived on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You

driver drove off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped

her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

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

tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard about

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

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

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what had

and classmates only knew that she was dating

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 he was the

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 as a lesson learned. You’ll definitely meet someone even

depending on myself than

were completely love-struck before summer break, but

her head and said, “I just hope I

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

flushed at

the campus together. They had planned to have dinner

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

you off this morning? Is he here to pick

remembered the