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

the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell into

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from

feeling a little sticky, she was in relatively

shower, changed into clean clothes, and

smell of food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately

had breakfast?”

Elliot hasn’t

and a piece of

was done eating in under five

that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

Avery said, then lifted her chin

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

on campus today, so I

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

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

the odd

not

the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now.

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

her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at

as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I

it because of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m

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

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

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of

was dating someone but had no

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 best man in the world,

Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson

myself than

grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck

head and said, “I just hope I can take care of

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

flushed at

the campus together. They had

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

off this

remembered the