The Heiress Who Refused the Family Key novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: The Gutter

On Wednesday I came off shift and found Preston sitting on a bollard outside the staff entrance.

He had on the grey suit from the wedding, and it had been slept in.

At his feet lay a black trash bag with a tennis racket sticking out of it.

The security guard from last week was already standing over him with his arms folded.

"Cece," Preston said. "Thank God."

"You have three minutes," said the guard, "and then I call the police."

"It's fine," I said. "I'll take it."

The guard looked at me, pleased, and stepped back.

Preston stood.

His eyes were red, and he hadn't shaved.

"Danielle put me out," he said.

"Out of where?"

"Her apartment. She changed the lock this morning and put my things on the sidewalk. She filed for the marriage to end on Monday, and she didn't even tell me." His voice broke. "Fourteen years, Cece. We have known each other fourteen years."

"You married her on a dare."

"It's not a dare, it's, I'm in trouble. The firm wants thirty-eight hundred dollars back by Friday, and my father won't pick up."

I waited.

"Your family could make that go away with one call. It's pocket change for them."

"You want me to pay for the chapel."

"I want you to be the bigger person."

Behind me, someone laughed and stopped.

A few nurses had come out for a break and stood against the wall with their coffees.

"No," I said.

"Cecelia."

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