Chapter 3: The Man Who Opened His Eyes

Six weeks had passed since Avery became Mrs. Foster.

Life had settled into a strange routine.

During the day, Avery helped manage the household and continued building plans for her own future.

Every afternoon, she visited Elliot in the private hospital.

She never expected him to hear her.

Still, she talked to him anyway.

"I found a new bookstore today," she said one afternoon.

"It's smaller than I imagined, but the location is perfect."

She adjusted the flowers beside his bed.

"One day, I'm going to open my own bookstore."

"And when I do, I'll probably spend all my money buying books instead of clothes."

There was no response.

Avery smiled faintly.

"You're lucky you're unconscious."

"You don't have to listen to all my nonsense."

For a moment, she rested her hand lightly on his.

Elliot's fingers were warm.

She didn't notice the slight movement beneath her palm.

A few minutes later, she left the room.

The instant the door closed...

Elliot's fingers moved again.

His breathing changed.

The monitor beside his bed began registering stronger activity.

Outside the room, a nurse suddenly noticed the change.

"Doctor!"

"Something's happening!"

Within seconds, several doctors rushed into the room.

Rosalie was called immediately.

She arrived breathless.

"What happened?"

The attending physician stared at the monitors in disbelief.

"His neurological activity has increased dramatically."

"His heart rate is stabilizing."

"He's responding to external stimulation."

Rosalie's eyes filled with tears.

"Does that mean..."

"We don't know yet."

"But this is the first significant change since the accident."

The entire medical team worked for hours.

Near midnight...

One of the doctors noticed movement beneath Elliot's eyelids.

"Wait."

"Everyone be quiet."

The room fell silent.

Elliot's fingers twitched.

Then his eyelids slowly opened.

The first thing he saw was a blur of white light.

The second thing he heard was a doctor's voice.

"Mr. Foster, can you hear me?"

His throat felt painfully dry.

He tried to speak.

Nothing came out.

The doctor leaned closer.

"Don't force yourself."

"You've been unconscious for six months."

Six months.

Elliot's mind struggled to process the words.

Fragments of memory returned.

A car.

Rain.

Headlights.

A violent impact.

Then darkness.

"Where..."

His voice was barely audible.

"Where am I?"

"Foster Private Hospital."

"You're safe."

Elliot slowly closed his eyes again.

He felt exhausted.

But alive.

The following morning, Rosalie entered his room.

"Elliot."

Her voice trembled.

Elliot looked at her.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Rosalie burst into tears.

"My son."

"You're really awake."

Elliot frowned slightly.

"Why are you crying?"

Rosalie laughed through her tears.

"Because I thought I'd lost you."

"The doctors told us you might never wake up."

Elliot looked around the room.

"How long?"

"Six months."

He stared at the ceiling.

Six months of his life had disappeared.

"What happened while I was unconscious?"

Rosalie hesitated.

Her hesitation immediately caught his attention.

"What?"

"There's something you need to know."

Elliot looked at her sharply.

"What happened?"

Rosalie slowly sat beside him.

"You got married."

Elliot stared at her.

"What?"

"While you were unconscious..."

"You're now married."

He almost laughed.

"Who?"

"Avery Tate."

The name meant nothing to him.

"Why?"

"Because I believed you shouldn't leave this world without a family."

Elliot's expression darkened.

"You married me to a stranger while I was unconscious?"

"I arranged the marriage because the woman agreed willingly."

"I didn't give her the choice?"

"She made the decision herself."

Elliot's jaw tightened.

"Bring her here."

"Now."

Rosalie hesitated.

"Elliot..."

"I said bring my wife here."

Several hours later, Avery arrived at the hospital.

She had been buying books for the bookstore when Rosalie called.

The moment she entered the room...

She stopped.

Elliot was sitting upright in the hospital bed.

His eyes were open.

Cold.

Sharp.

Very much alive.

Avery's heart began pounding.

"You're awake."

Elliot looked at her from head to toe.

He had never seen this woman before.

Yet she was apparently his wife.

"You're Avery?"

"Yes."

She swallowed nervously.

"Avery Tate."

Elliot's expression remained unreadable.

"How long have we been married?"

"Six weeks."

"And I was unconscious the entire time?"

"Yes."

His jaw tightened.

"So you married a man who couldn't even consent."

"I needed to save my father," Avery replied honestly.

"Your family offered a marriage arrangement."

"I accepted."

"I wasn't chasing your money."

"I don't care about your reason."

His voice was cold.

"I care that my life was decided while I couldn't speak."

Avery took the words without flinching.

"You're right."

"I understand why you're angry."

Elliot looked surprised by her response.

Most people would have argued.

She didn't.

"But I didn't force you into anything," Avery continued.

"And I won't force you now."

"If you want a divorce, I'll agree."

Elliot stared at her.

"You're not even going to fight?"

"Why would I?"

"You don't love me."

"You don't know me."

The blunt honesty caught him off guard.

Avery calmly picked up her handbag.

"I'll give you time to recover."

"When you're ready, we'll discuss the divorce."

She turned toward the door.

Elliot watched her leave.

For some reason...

He couldn't stop looking after her.

He didn't understand why.

He didn't know that the quiet woman walking away had been the voice that reached him in the darkness.

And he certainly didn't know...

That the next time he closed his eyes...

He would hear her voice again.