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 got to

closet, wrapped

sweated all night, ridding herself of the

feeling a little sticky, she was in relatively

shower, changed into clean clothes,

the smell of food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately

he had breakfast?” Avery

hasn’t

her glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began to wolf

was done eating in under five

of him, Madam?” Mrs.

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

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

something to do on campus today,

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

“It’s fine. I’ll just take

the odd jobs. I’ll get

not

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

the driver drove off, a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped

expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to

into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate school with

said, “Is it because of your family? I

I never really wanted to

graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of

knew that she was dating

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

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 lesson learned. You’ll definitely meet

myself

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

said, “I just hope I can take care of myself

the class in both majors. The sky’s

cheeks flushed at

and Tammy left the campus together. They

they arrived at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

you off this morning? Is he here to pick

remembered the