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

thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from the night

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

into clean clothes, and

to the dining

had

Elliot hasn’t come down

milk and a piece of

was done eating in under five

you that afraid of him, Madam?”

to see him,” Avery said, then

little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper.

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

Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending to inform the driver of his

I’ll just take a cab. He

Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll

could not win against

the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back

a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the

not expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be

cutie. It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate school

because of your family? I heard

“Actually, I never really wanted to go to

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

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother of what had happened with

was dating someone but had no idea who he

said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he

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 even better

on myself than a

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

head and said, “I just hope I can take

of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone like you!” Tammy

flushed at

left the campus

the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia

off this morning? Is

still remembered