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.

……

the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by

the closet, wrapped herself in it, and fell into a deep

night, ridding herself of the chill

from feeling a little sticky, she was

shower, changed into clean clothes,

the dining room, and

had

hasn’t come

her glass of milk and a piece of toast,

was done eating in under five

you that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

don’t want to see him,” Avery said,

after spending a little more time together,”

on campus today, so I won’t be having

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

stopped her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just

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

not win against

and said, “Thank you. You can

woman ran up to Avery, tapped

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

walked into campus together. “Tammy, I

it because of your family? I

a smile and said, “Actually, I never really wanted to go to

your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had

friends and classmates only knew that she was dating someone but

have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man

about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned. You’ll definitely meet someone even better

off depending on myself than

grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve turned into

head and said, “I just hope I

You’re the only double major I know who’s at top of the class

cheeks flushed at the

the

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia

who dropped you off this morning? Is

still remembered