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.

……

was because of the cold wind, but Avery’s head

the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from the

Avery woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she was in relatively good

changed into clean clothes, and

of food to the dining room, and

he had breakfast?” Avery

Elliot hasn’t come down

glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began to wolf down her

was done eating

that afraid of him,

see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added,

time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you be coming home

on campus today, so I

the driver to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper

“It’s fine. I’ll

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

not win

had arrived on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now.

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

in her best friend

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

stopped in her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I

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

right?” Tammy said. “When are you

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had

was

She then took a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have

when 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 definitely meet someone

myself than a man,” Avery

need to go through some heartbreak to grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break,

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

of the class in both majors. The

cheeks flushed at the

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

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

who dropped you off

remembered