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.

……

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

wrapped herself

of

Avery woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky,

took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and went

the smell of food to the dining room,

he had

hasn’t come

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

eating in under five

that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs. Cooper

Avery said, then lifted

spending a little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will

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

you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left,

stopped her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a cab. He can have

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

could not

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

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

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

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

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

said, “Actually, I never

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

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother of

that she was dating someone but had

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

her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just

myself than a man,” Avery

completely love-struck before summer break,

her head and said, “I just hope

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

flushed at the

evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to

instantly pointed at the Portia parked by the

off this morning? Is he here to pick

still remembered