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.

……

head felt heavy

closet, wrapped herself in it, and

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from

aside from feeling a little sticky, she was

a shower, changed into clean

followed the smell of food to the dining room,

had

Master Elliot hasn’t come

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

done eating in

of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

just don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added,

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

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

get the driver to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper

and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just

drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd

could not

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

a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her

in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the campus

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

said, “Is it because of

managed a smile and said, “Actually, I never really wanted

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

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother

only knew that she was

deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone

around Avery’s waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think

myself than a man,” Avery

sighed. “You were completely love-struck before

her head and said, “I just hope I can

of the class in both majors.

cheeks flushed

five in the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together.

Tammy instantly pointed at

who dropped you off this morning? Is

still remembered