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

closet, wrapped herself in

all night, ridding herself of the chill from the

next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky,

changed into clean clothes, and went

followed the smell of food to the dining

he had

hasn’t come

milk and a piece of toast, then began to wolf down her

done eating in

of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

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

time together,” said Mrs. Cooper.

on campus today,

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

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

the

not

said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my own way home

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

bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the campus

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

a smile and said, “Actually, I never

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

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of what had happened

only knew that she was dating someone

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 best man in the world,

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

depending on myself than a

love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady

and said, “I just hope

only double major I know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone like you!”

cheeks flushed at the

and Tammy left the campus

instantly pointed at the Portia parked

Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is he here to pick you

still remembered