The Ties That Binds

h, are y

t the couch. Her hands clutched the empty mug she had set aside earlier, still warm from the c

voice tight. "Just... n

to me. I can hear it in y

ice was still there, pressing down on her chest like a physical burden. But she wasn't ready to tell Rachel

handle. Just... some th

avannah could hear Rachel breathing, the s

ng you, and this isn't the usual 'I'm fine' tone. Come on

t's just... the bills, Rachel. Everything's overdue, and I don't know

. "Savannah, I've been telling you this for months, why don't you just

t too quickly. "I can't ask anyone for help.

at her. Asking for help was not something Savannah was used to. She had always prided herself on her independenc

could hear the quiet hum of traffic outside the window,

the gentle reassurance Savannah had expected. "You don't have to go throu

ike that? Her pride had always been her shield, the one thing that kept her from falling apart.

't know if she could bring herself to admit the full scope of her situ

ore insistent than the first. It was as if the universe itself wa

ly. "I'll talk to you soon, okay? J

el started, but Savannah

hing press down on her once again. She couldn't escape it. She couldn't hide

d. She didn't want to answer it, didn't want to face whatever

. Standing there in a dark suit, his expression unre

erling," sh

than she remembered. His eyes flickered past her, sweeping

e standing on your doorstep. He was a billionaire, the heir to a vast fortune, power, influence, control. A man who lived in worlds she

, trying to sound composed, but the

rcing her to step back, until he was inside. Savannah's skin prickled with an unfamiliar discomfort as he moved into her space, towering

ted, but he cut her off

arker. "I know all about your situation. I know you're facing forec

She hadn't told anyone about the forec

" she demanded, her h

al as he scanned the room. "You're not exactly hiding it well.

ation. This was too much. Not only was he aware of her fin

pped, backing away from him. "I'm

to a faint smirk. "I'm not here to pity you,

ah couldn't grasp them, couldn't even comprehend the

from you," she said,

old. "What if I told you that I can help you save

pped a beat. "What a

a deal, Savannah. A marriage contract. You marry me, and in return, I'l

o words came. Instead, a cold shiver ran down her spine, and her mind went

ecision," Jackson said, turning

standing in her empty living room, her worl