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 felt

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

ridding herself of the chill from the night

from feeling a little sticky,

changed into clean clothes, and

to the dining

he had breakfast?” Avery

Master Elliot hasn’t come down

her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began to

eating in

of him, Madam?” Mrs.

to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her

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

have something to do on campus today, so

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

immediately stopped her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a cab. He can

the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,”

not

said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my own way home

driver drove off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her

not expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

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

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

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

right?” Tammy

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had happened

classmates only knew that she was dating someone but

to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world,

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

better off depending on myself than a

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

said, “I just hope I can take care of

of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone like you!” Tammy

flushed at

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

gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

Isn’t that the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is he here to pick

remembered the