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.

……

of the cold wind, but Avery’s head

from the closet, wrapped herself

all night, ridding herself of

feeling a little sticky, she was in relatively good

shower, changed into clean clothes, and went

to the dining

he had

Master Elliot hasn’t come down

Avery picked up her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began

was done eating

that afraid of him,

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 home

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

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

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

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

not

“Thank you. You can

off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who was that

in her best friend Tammy Lynch

not a cutie. It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I

her tracks and said, “Is it because of

“Actually, I never really wanted to go to

graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had happened

only knew that she was dating

know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world, but he was nothing

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

better off depending on myself than a man,”

were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve turned

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

the only double major I know who’s at top of the class in

flushed at

the campus

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia

Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning?

remembered