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.

……

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

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

all night, ridding herself of the

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

changed into clean clothes, and

dining

he had breakfast?”

hasn’t come down

and a piece

eating in under five

you that afraid of him, Madam?”

want to see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and added, “Seeing him makes

little more time together,” said

on campus today, so I won’t be having dinner at

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

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

two drivers at home. One for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take

not win against

driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now.

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

her best friend Tammy

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

tracks and said, “Is it because of your family?

said, “Actually, I never really wanted to go

right?” Tammy said. “When are you

Avery was taken aback.

only told her mother

knew that she was dating someone but had no

deep breath and said, “Do you know what it 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

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

better off depending on myself than a man,” Avery

go through some heartbreak to grow,” Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve turned into

“I just hope

You’re the only double major I know who’s at top of the class

flushed

and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked

dropped you off this

still remembered the