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

blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from the

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

a shower, changed into clean clothes, and went

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

he had breakfast?” Avery

Master Elliot hasn’t

picked up her glass of milk and a piece

eating in under

that afraid of him, Madam?”

want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and

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

do on campus today, so I won’t

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

I’ll just take a cab.

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

not win against

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

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

to bump in her best friend

not a cutie. It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to graduate school with

her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m so

“Actually, I never really wanted to

right?” Tammy said. “When are you

Avery was taken aback.

had only told her mother of what had

that she was dating someone but had no

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

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

depending on myself

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

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

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

flushed at the

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

gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by

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

remembered