Chapter 3 Hope

Savannah's phone buzzed once, twice, three times, interrupting her thoughts. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her mind of the whirlwind of emotions that Jackson's proposal had caused. She hadn't even had a chance to process everything before her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen: an unknown number.

For a moment, she hesitated. Her heart thudded in her chest. Was it the bank? Had they already decided to start the foreclosure proceedings early? No. She had a week. A week, Jackson had said. Her stomach churned. What if they were calling to speed up the process?

"Hello?" she answered, her voice tight.

"Savannah Montgomery?" The voice on the other end was cold, professional, with just the right amount of detachment to make her feel like she was nothing more than a transaction. "This is Victor Harris from Sterling Enterprises. We've been trying to reach you regarding an important matter."

Her breath caught in her throat. The name hit her like a punch to the gut.

"Sterling Enterprises?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. The same company Jackson Sterling controlled? Was this some kind of scam? Her mind raced. Was this really happening? Was she dreaming?

"Yes, Miss Montgomery. If you have a moment, I'd like to discuss your current financial situation. We may have a solution for you."

Savannah's thoughts jumbled together in a desperate tangle. "I'm not interested in any more solutions," she said quickly, trying to sound firm, though she felt anything but. "I've already made my decision."

"I understand," Victor said smoothly, his tone unchanging. "But you haven't made your decision yet, Miss Montgomery. You see, we have some... new developments on our end. I believe you'll want to hear them."

She clenched her teeth, her grip tightening around the phone. There was something in his voice, something predatory, as though he knew something she didn't. Something that made her skin crawl.

"I'm not interested in hearing about more 'solutions.'" Savannah tried to end the conversation but found herself stuck, her voice faltering.

There was a long pause on the other end, almost as though he was waiting for her to settle into the silence. Then Victor spoke again, his voice slightly lower, more calculated.

"Perhaps you should reconsider. You see, the Sterling family is known for helping those who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances. But the help comes at a cost." His words slid into the air like poison, slow and deliberate. "Jackson Sterling is... well, he's made an offer that I believe will solve all your problems."

Her heart skipped a beat. She recognized the name immediately, but this? This was too much.

She stood up abruptly, her fingers trembling on the edge of the coffee table as she tried to steady herself. "I already told him I wasn't interested. I don't want your charity, or his."

Victor's chuckle sent a chill down her spine. "It's not charity, Miss Montgomery. Think of it as a business arrangement. You'll get the money you need, and in return, you'll offer Jackson something he wants."

"Stop," Savannah said, her breath quickening. "I don't want anything from him. I don't want anything from you."

Another pause. She could almost hear Victor's calculating stare on the other end of the line.

"Then, perhaps," he began, his voice slightly colder, "you're not quite aware of the position you're in."

Savannah's eyes darted to the window, her thoughts scattered. The room seemed to close in around her, her chest tightening with every word. She had already signed her name on the dotted line for the house. She had no more options, no more space to maneuver.

"I'm aware," she whispered, the words coming out far weaker than she intended.

"You've got one week. Jackson is a reasonable man. You know how these things work. He doesn't like to waste time. And time, Miss Montgomery, is running out."

The finality of Victor's words hit her harder than she expected. Her vision blurred for a second as the weight of it settled around her. She couldn't do this. She couldn't go through with the marriage.

But then... what other choice did she have?

"Alright," Savannah said, her voice barely audible now, the decision already eating away at her. "I'll think about it."

"I'll have Jackson call you," Victor said with a clipped finality. "Goodbye, Miss Montgomery."

The line went dead before she could respond.

Savannah dropped the phone into her lap, unable to focus on anything in the room. She felt dizzy, disconnected. The walls seemed to close in on her, but she didn't have the energy to fight it anymore. She had no options left. Nothing left to lose.

Her gaze fell to the kitchen counter, where the paperwork was still scattered. She had bills, overdue bills, medical expenses from her father's treatment, maintenance fees on the house... All of it taunting her, waiting to be dealt with. But how?

There had to be something else. There had to be. Her father's last words echoed in her mind, always find a way, Savannah. Never give up.

But what if the way was Jackson?

Her fingers gripped the edge of the counter, her nails digging into the wood as if it could anchor her to reality. She couldn't do it. She couldn't marry him, couldn't sell herself to save everything she'd worked for.

But what if it wasn't a sale? What if it was just a contract? A business arrangement, like he said. Jackson wasn't asking for anything more than a formal agreement, wasn't he?

A sharp knock at the door cut through her thoughts, making her heart lurch in her chest.

"Savannah," a familiar voice called from the other side of the door. "It's me, Jackson."

Her pulse quickened. She hadn't expected him to show up this soon.

"Savannah," he repeated, his voice sounding more urgent this time.

She stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do.

The door was locked. She didn't have to open it.

But she knew she would.

Savannah took a deep breath, walking to the door slowly, every step heavier than the last. When she turned the handle and opened the door, Jackson stood there, his dark eyes looking down at her, unreadable as ever.

He took a step inside without waiting for her to invite him in, as though he had every right to be there.

She bit her lip, gathering what little courage she had left. "What do you want, Jackson?"

Jackson's gaze never wavered as he looked down at her, his expression calm, almost too calm. "I think you know why I'm here."