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 felt

wrapped herself in it, and fell

night, ridding herself of the chill from

Avery woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a

took a shower, changed into clean

dining room, and Mrs. Cooper

had

Elliot hasn’t come down

and a piece of toast, then began to wolf down her

was done eating in

afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

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

together,” said

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

driver to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She

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

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

not win

and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll

the driver drove off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery!

in her best friend

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

it because of your family?

said, “Actually, I never really wanted

right?” Tammy said.

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother of what had

was dating

breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he

her arm around Avery’s waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a

depending on myself than a man,”

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

her head and said, “I just hope I can take care

top of the class in

cheeks flushed

Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had

they arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the

Portia who dropped you off this

remembered