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.

……

wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy

closet, wrapped herself in

of the

feeling a little sticky, she

changed into clean clothes, and

the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately served

had

Master Elliot hasn’t

glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began

eating in under

of

him,” Avery said, then lifted her

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

today, so I won’t be

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

I’ll just take a cab.

home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to

not win

on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my

young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder,

bump in her best

It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into

her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m

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

marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?”

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of what had

she was dating someone but had no idea who

breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I

red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned. You’ll

on myself than

were completely love-struck before summer break,

hope I

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

flushed at

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

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

off this morning? Is he here

still remembered the