CHAPTER 4 — THE GATES NEVER OPENED AGAIN
One week after the wedding, Preston stood outside Eleanor's new estate.
Rain poured from a dark sky.
The iron gates towered above him.
Locked.
Silent.
Final.
He had called hundreds of times.
No answer.
Sent emails.
No reply.
Written letters.
Nothing.
Finally, he approached the security intercom.
"I need to speak to Eleanor."
The guard looked at him without emotion.
"Ms. Whitmore is unavailable."
"Please."
The word felt strange in Preston's mouth.
He had never begged anyone before.
"Tell her I'm sorry."
The guard listened through an earpiece.
Then nodded once.
"Ms. Whitmore has a message."
Preston's heart raced.
"What is it?"
The guard looked directly at him.
"She said the man she loved died on their wedding night."
Silence.
The rain continued falling.
"What else?"
The guard paused.
Then delivered the final blow.
"She said you chose your future when you walked out that door."
The intercom clicked off.
The gates remained closed.
Preston stood there for a long time.
Watching the mansion beyond the trees.
Watching the life he would never have again.
Inside, Eleanor stood by a window overlooking the ocean.
She saw him.
She recognized him.
And then she turned away.
Not because she still loved him.
Not because she hated him.
But because she felt absolutely nothing.
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And that was the one thing Preston Caldwell could never survive.
THE END.
