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.

……

it was because of the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the

blanket from the closet, wrapped

of the chill

Avery woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a

changed into clean clothes,

smell of food to the dining

had

hasn’t

of milk and a piece of

done eating

you that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

just don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted

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

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

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

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

Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,” said

could not win

on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now.

Avery, tapped

in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be

as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I

in 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 really wanted to

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

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what

classmates only knew that she was dating someone but had no idea

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

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

off depending on myself than a man,”

through some heartbreak to grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve turned

shook her head and said, “I just hope I

know who’s at top of the

cheeks flushed at the

the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to have dinner

gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

who dropped you off this morning? Is he

still remembered