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.

……

Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got to her

blanket from the closet, wrapped herself

of the

feeling a

took a shower, changed into clean

of food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper

had breakfast?”

hasn’t come down

this, Avery picked up her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began to wolf down

done eating in under

you that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

see him,” Avery said, then lifted

after spending a little more time together,” said

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

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

I’ll just take a cab.

drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd

could not win against

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

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

to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch

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

said, “Is it because of your

“Actually, I never really wanted to

after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what had happened

friends and classmates only knew that she was dating someone but had no idea who

feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in

waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a

on myself than a man,” Avery

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

“I just hope I can take care

at top of the class in both majors. The

flushed at

Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had

they arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia

Mr. Portia who dropped you off

still remembered