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.

……

of the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she

blanket from the closet, wrapped herself

all night, ridding herself of the chill from the

from feeling a little sticky, she was

shower, changed into clean clothes,

the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately

he had breakfast?”

hasn’t come down

of milk and a piece of toast, then began to wolf

done eating in

afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

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

be fine after spending a little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will

do on campus today,

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

said, “It’s fine. I’ll just

two drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,” said

not win

“Thank you.

tapped her on the shoulder, and

in her best friend

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

in her tracks and said, “Is it because of

said, “Actually, I never

you’re thinking of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had happened

she was dating someone

like to have someone completely destroy your

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

off depending on myself than a man,”

completely love-struck before summer break, but look at

her head and said, “I just hope I

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

flushed at the

and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to have dinner

at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked

off this

remembered the