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.

……

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

took out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and

night, ridding herself of the chill from the

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

into clean clothes, and

the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately served her

he had breakfast?”

hasn’t come

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

eating

you that afraid of

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

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

something to do on campus today, so I

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

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

have two drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,” said Mrs.

not win

they had arrived on campus, Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now. I’ll find my own way home

ran up to Avery, tapped her on

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

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

her tracks and said, “Is it because of

and said, “Actually, I never really wanted to

right?” Tammy said.

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what

friends and classmates only knew that she was dating someone but had no

Avery said. She then took a deep breath and said, “Do you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I

that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned. You’ll

better off depending on myself than a

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

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

You’re the only double major I know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone like

flushed

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

instantly pointed at

Isn’t that the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is he here

remembered the