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 got

the closet, wrapped herself in

sweated all night, ridding herself of

morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she

took a shower, changed into clean clothes,

dining

had

Elliot hasn’t

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

eating in under

afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly

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

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

immediately stopped her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll

have two drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,” said Mrs.

could not

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

up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and

not expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch

as they walked into

of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m so

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

after graduation, right?”

Avery was taken aback.

mother of what

only knew that she was dating someone but

up,” Avery said. She then took a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have

her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re

myself than

to go through some heartbreak to grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature

head and said, “I just hope I can take

of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone like you!” Tammy

cheeks flushed at the

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

instantly pointed at the Portia parked

who dropped you off this morning?

still remembered the