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 by the time she got to

closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell into a

all night, ridding herself of the

from feeling a little sticky, she was

shower, changed into clean clothes,

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

he had breakfast?” Avery

Elliot hasn’t

of milk and a piece of toast, then

done eating

of him,

want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and

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

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

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

and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a

have two drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other

could not win

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

up to Avery, tapped her on the

her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the campus

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

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

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

know, you’re thinking of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother

only knew that she was dating someone but

you know what it feels like to have someone

Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it

depending on myself than a man,”

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

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

at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for

cheeks flushed

and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned

instantly pointed at the Portia parked

dropped you off

remembered