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.

……

but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she

took out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself

all night, ridding herself of the chill

aside from feeling a little sticky, she was

into clean

food to the dining room,

had

Elliot hasn’t

her glass of milk and a

was done eating in under five

that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

said,

little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will

something to do on campus today, so

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

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

drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the

could not

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

young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the

in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

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

because of your family? I heard

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

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

Avery was taken aback.

mother

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

a deep breath and said, “Do you 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

said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young.

depending on myself than a

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

head and said, “I just hope I can

course! You’re the only double major I know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone like you!” Tammy

cheeks flushed at the

and Tammy left the

they arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked

you off

remembered the