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.

……

Avery’s head felt

the closet, wrapped

night, ridding herself of the chill from the

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

a shower, changed into clean clothes,

to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately

had breakfast?”

Elliot hasn’t come down

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

was done eating in under five

that afraid of

afraid… I just don’t want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted

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

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

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

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

the odd jobs. I’ll get the

could not win

turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head

to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who was

expect to bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be

It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus

of your family? I heard

“Actually, I never really wanted to

boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going to introduce

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had happened

was dating someone

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

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

depending on myself than a

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

just hope I can take

top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for someone like

cheeks flushed at

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

instantly pointed at the

that the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is he

remembered