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.

……

but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got to

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

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from the

woke up the next morning, aside from feeling a little

took a shower, changed into

smell of food to the dining

had

Elliot hasn’t come

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

was done eating

of him, Madam?” Mrs.

want to see him,” Avery said, then

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 dinner at

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

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

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

could not

turned to the driver and said, “Thank you.

tapped her on the shoulder, and said,

bump in her best friend Tammy Lynch to be

walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t

and said, “Is it because of your

a smile and said, “Actually, I never really

of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother of what

and classmates only knew that she was dating

feels like to have someone completely destroy your trust?

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

better off depending on myself than a man,” Avery

completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve turned

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

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 you!”

flushed

in the evening, Avery and Tammy left the campus

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

who dropped you off this morning? Is

still remembered