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.

……

cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by

blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell into

all night, ridding herself of

morning, aside from feeling a little sticky,

a shower, changed into clean

food to the dining

had

Elliot hasn’t

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

was done eating in

afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

said, then

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

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

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

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

and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other

not win against

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

driver drove off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said,

did not expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to

into campus together. “Tammy,

of your family?

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

boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of what

knew that she was dating someone but

what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world, but

red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery.

off depending on myself than

Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at

hope I

double major I know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for

cheeks flushed

evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They

gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked

who dropped you off this morning? Is he here to

still remembered