The sky was darkening as Hunter Jackson stood before the tall gates that separated him from the house of his past—a place that now felt like a stranger. The modern colonial home loomed with elegance in the center of a wide yard, its manicured gardens flawless and cold. Once, he had called this place home. But ever since he left with Shopia Joy, it had become a monument to everything he had thrown away.
Hunter took a deep breath. His shirt was wrinkled, his pants faded. His once-polished leather shoes had lost their shine. Everything he owned vanished when Shopia left, and with her, so did his wealth.
Now, he stood at the gates of his past, empty-handed, his heart weighed down with regret.
Someone inside the house glanced at the CCTV camera. Seconds later, the gates opened automatically.
