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 got to

closet, wrapped herself

night, ridding herself of the chill from

next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she was in relatively good

into clean clothes, and

followed the smell of food to the dining room, and Mrs.

had

Master Elliot hasn’t come down

her glass of milk and a piece of toast,

eating in under

you that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

just don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing him makes me

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

on campus today, so I won’t

there,” Mrs. Cooper

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

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

could not

to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my own way

Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who

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

‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into

it because of your

“Actually, I never really wanted to go to graduate

right?” Tammy

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother of what had happened with

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

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 learned.

off depending on myself than a man,” Avery

were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at

shook her head and said, “I just hope

know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s

flushed

evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together.

gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked

dropped you off this morning? Is he here to

remembered