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.

……

Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got to her

a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped

all night, ridding herself of

morning, aside from feeling a

a shower, changed into clean clothes, and

smell of food to the dining room,

had breakfast?” Avery

Elliot hasn’t

glass of milk and a piece of toast, then

done eating in

you that afraid of him, Madam?”

want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing him makes

together,”

do on campus today, so I

Cooper said. She

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

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

not

driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find

ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and

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

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

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

and said, “Actually, I never

of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going to introduce me

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of

classmates only knew that she was dating someone but

it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought

she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it

off depending on myself than a

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

“I just hope I can take care of myself

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

flushed at

Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They

at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the

dropped you off this morning? Is he here to pick

remembered the