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 the time she

thick blanket from the closet, wrapped

herself of the chill from the night

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

shower, changed into clean clothes, and went

the dining room,

had breakfast?” Avery

Elliot hasn’t

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

eating in

afraid of him, Madam?”

see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin

be fine after spending a little more time together,” said

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

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

and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take

One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take

not win

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

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

to bump in her best

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

it because of your family? I

managed a smile and said, “Actually, I never really

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

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother

she was dating someone but had

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

she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned. You’ll

on myself than a man,” Avery

grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve turned into

shook her head and said, “I just hope I can take care of myself after

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

flushed at the

the campus together. They

arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly

that the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning?

still remembered