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.

……

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

closet, wrapped herself in it,

all night, ridding herself of the

aside from feeling a little sticky,

into clean

food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately

he had

Master Elliot hasn’t come

of milk and a piece

done eating in under five

of

not afraid… I just don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing

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

campus today, so I won’t be having

get the driver to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending to inform the driver of his

and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take

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

not win

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

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

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

into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I

in her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m so

and said, “Actually, I never really wanted

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

Avery was taken aback.

mother of what had happened

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

broke up,” Avery said. She then took a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he

that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned.

off depending on myself than

grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the

hope I can

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

flushed at the

Avery and Tammy left the campus together.

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

off this morning? Is he here

still remembered the