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.

……

the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the

a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell into a

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from the

feeling a little sticky, she was in

shower, changed into clean

the dining

he had

Master Elliot hasn’t come down

her glass of milk and a piece

done eating in under five

you that afraid of

want to see him,” Avery said,

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

do on campus today, so I won’t be having dinner at home

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

“It’s fine. I’ll just

have two drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the

not

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

to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery!

in her best friend Tammy Lynch

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

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

I never really wanted to go to graduate

boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said.

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of what had happened with

only knew that she was dating someone

you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man

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

off depending on myself than a man,”

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

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

the class in both majors.

flushed at

and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to have

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

Isn’t that the Mr. Portia who dropped you off

remembered