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 time

the closet, wrapped herself in

sweated all night, ridding herself of the

morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she was in relatively

changed into clean clothes, and went

the dining room, and Mrs.

had breakfast?” Avery

hasn’t come down

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

was done eating in

of him, Madam?”

Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly

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

on campus today, so

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

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

for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,” said Mrs.

could not win against

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

tapped her on

best friend Tammy Lynch

as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can

because of your family? I heard about

and said, “Actually, I never

of marrying 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 had

like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world, but he was nothing but human

waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned. You’ll definitely meet someone

better off depending on myself than a man,”

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

“I just hope I

of the class in both

cheeks flushed at the

Tammy left the campus together. They had planned

arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed

dropped you off

remembered