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.

……

wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got to

took out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it,

all night, ridding herself of the chill

up the next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky,

took a shower, changed into clean

of food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately

had breakfast?” Avery

hasn’t

her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then

eating in under

that afraid of him,

don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin

fine after spending a little more time together,” said

campus today,

there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending to inform

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

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

not

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

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

did not expect to bump in her best friend Tammy

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

her tracks and said, “Is it because of your

I never really wanted

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

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of what had happened with

only knew that she was dating someone but had no idea

what it feels like to have someone

about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of

on myself than

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

shook her head and said, “I just hope I can take

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

flushed at

in the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned

gates, Tammy instantly pointed at

off

still remembered the