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.

……

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

out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped

of the chill from

the next morning, aside from feeling a little

took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and

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

had breakfast?” Avery

hasn’t come

glass of milk and a

eating in under five

of him, Madam?”

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

time together,” said Mrs. Cooper.

campus today, so I won’t be having dinner

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

fine. I’ll just take

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

not

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

a young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her

best friend Tammy Lynch to be at the

they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I don’t think I can go to

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

smile and said, “Actually, I never

know, you’re thinking of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going

Avery was taken aback.

her mother of

was dating someone but

like to have

Avery. We’re still young.

myself

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

her head and said, “I just hope I

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

flushed

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

at the campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked

off this morning? Is he

still remembered the