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.

……

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

out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself

sweated all night, ridding herself of the chill from the

morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she

a shower, changed into clean clothes, and

followed the smell of food to the dining room, and Mrs.

had

Elliot hasn’t come down

picked up her glass of milk and a piece

done eating in

that afraid of him, Madam?”

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

more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you be coming

do on campus today, so I

driver to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper

her and said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take

Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,” said Mrs.

could not win

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

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

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

It’s ‘Mr. Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t

because of your family? I heard about your

smile and said, “Actually, I never really wanted to go

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

Avery was taken aback.

mother of what had happened with

friends and classmates only knew that she was dating someone but

like to have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world, but he

she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re still young. Just think of it as a lesson learned. You’ll definitely

off depending on myself than a man,”

Tammy sighed. “You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve turned into

“I just hope I can take care of myself

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!” Tammy

flushed

the campus

Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked

dropped you off this morning?

remembered