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

took out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped

ridding herself of the chill from the

from feeling a little sticky, she was in

into clean clothes,

of food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper

he had breakfast?”

hasn’t come

her glass of milk and a

done eating in under

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

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

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

today, so I won’t be having dinner

take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending

fine. I’ll just take a cab.

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

not

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

woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the

best friend Tammy Lynch to be

as they walked into campus

said, “Is it because of your

“Actually, I never really wanted to go

of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother of what had happened

and classmates only knew that she was dating someone

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 the world,

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

myself than a man,”

completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature

“I just hope I can take care of myself

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

cheeks flushed

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

instantly pointed at

dropped you off this morning?

remembered