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.

……

because of the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she

wrapped herself in it, and fell into

sweated all night, ridding herself of the

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

changed into clean clothes, and went

dining

he had breakfast?”

Master Elliot hasn’t

Avery picked up her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then

done eating in under

that afraid of him,

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

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

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

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

said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take

home. One for Master Elliot and one for the

not win

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

to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who was that

expect to bump in her best friend

‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into

of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m so

said, “Actually, I never really wanted to go to

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

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what had

she was dating someone but had

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

said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a

off depending on myself than a man,” Avery

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

said, “I just hope I

only double major I know who’s at top of the class in both

cheeks flushed at

left the campus together. They had planned to

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is

still remembered the