Chapter 18: Shattered Foundations

The mansion felt different after the leak , quieter, but not in a peaceful way. It was the quiet that follows destruction, the kind that sits in the air like dust after an explosion, the kind that tells you something massive is about to break.

Savannah stood in the far corner of the sitting room, arms wrapped around herself, watching the storm build in Jackson Sterling’s eyes. He paced the room like a man fighting a war inside his own body. His movements were sharp, controlled, but there was something frayed around the edges , a pressure threatening to burst through the surface.

Grayson was near the fireplace, hands shaking as he held out the tablet again. “It’s everywhere now. Every major outlet. They’re saying the clause was altered intentionally to protect your position.”

Savannah felt the floor tilt under her. Fraud.

The media was already using the word without hesitation.

Jackson’s father’s face filled the television screen , a clip from a live interview. Harrison’s voice was icy, confident, practiced.

“…Sterling Enterprises has always operated with integrity. I trust the board will act swiftly to restore honor to our name.”

Savannah felt rage prick through her chest. Harrison was positioning himself as the hero , the savior. But she knew better. Delilah had spoken the truth. This was no coincidence. This was orchestrated.

Jackson stopped pacing and faced the screen, shoulders rising and falling with slow, controlled breaths.

“He’s framing you,” Savannah whispered.

Jackson didn’t respond at first. Then, 

“He’s always wanted the company back.”

His voice was low, quiet in a way that scared her more than shouting ever could. “He wants control. Power. And he knows the easiest way to take it is to make me look like the villain.”

Grayson nodded grimly. “The board is calling an emergency session in two hours.”

Savannah lifted her eyes to Jackson. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” Jackson said, gaze hardening into steel, “they’re preparing to remove me.”

The room felt colder. Savannah’s pulse thudded like a warning drum.

“But they can’t,” she said. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Jackson’s voice cracked , barely, but it did. “Evidence doesn’t matter. Optics do. And right now the world thinks I forged documents to force a marriage and control Sterling Enterprises.”

Savannah’s stomach twisted painfully.

The marriage.

Her.

She was part of the scandal.

“Jackson,” she whispered, stepping closer, “what can we do?”

He looked at her then , truly looked. And the rage she expected wasn’t there. What she saw instead was fear. Not of losing money or reputation… but something deeper.

“Savannah,” he said quietly. “He’s going to drag you into this.”

Her chest tightened. “What? Why?”

“Because it’s the easiest way to break me.” Jackson swallowed. “They’ll say you were in on it. That you falsified documents with me. That you married me to hide the fraud.”

Savannah’s breath left her in a rush. “But that’s a lie.”

“Since when has the truth ever mattered to them?” Jackson whispered.

Grayson stepped forward. “We need to get ahead of this. Issue a statement, present the real evidence, ”

“There is no evidence,” Jackson said. “Harrison deleted the original files. He made sure everything trails back to me.”

Savannah’s knees felt weak. She sank into the nearest chair, fingers tightening against her thighs. “So he planned this from the beginning.”

Jackson didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

Harrison Sterling was a master strategist. And Savannah had walked into his plan without even realizing it.

A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the crackling fireplace.

Then Jackson turned to her, expression unreadable. “Savannah.”

She looked up.

“If this escalates…” His voice lowered. “They’ll subpoena you.”

She blinked. “Subpoena?”

He nodded. “Question you. Threaten you. Drag your name through the media. They’ll dig into your father, your debt, your history. They’ll try to make you look dishonest.”

Savannah’s breath hitched.

“They will paint you as the woman who trapped me. The woman who helped me forge a contract to save my empire.”

Her chest tightened, fear clawing at her ribs.

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know,” Jackson said , and the softness in his tone nearly broke her. “But they don’t care.”

He stepped toward her, lowering himself to a crouch in front of her chair. For the first time since she’d met him, Jackson Sterling , the cold billionaire, the king of steel and marble , looked human.

“Listen to me.”

His voice was low, urgent.

“I will protect you. No matter what.”

The promise made her throat tighten.

But before she could speak, Grayson’s phone buzzed sharply. He checked the screen , and blanched.

He turned the tablet for them to see.

A live headline scrolled across the top in bold red letters:

SAVANNAH MONTGOMERY: SECRET PLAYER IN STERLING SCANDAL?

INSIDERS CLAIM NEW “WIFE” HELPED COVER UP FRAUD.

Savannah’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“No…” she whispered. “No, no, no.”

Grayson’s phone buzzed again. And again. Notifications lighting up like small explosions.

“They’re coming for her already,” he said. “We need to move.”

Jackson stood so quickly his chair scraped across the floor. “Savannah. Get your things.”

“Where are we going?” she whispered.

“Away from here,” Jackson said. “Somewhere safe.”

Safe.

The word felt surreal now , like something she hadn’t experienced in years.

“But the board meeting, ” Grayson started.

“Reschedule it,” Jackson snapped. “My wife comes first.”

Savannah froze.

The word hit her with surprising force.

Wife.

Not pawn.

Not contract.

Wife.

Jackson turned, meeting her eyes again. “Savannah. Please.”

It wasn’t a command this time.

It was a request.

Savannah nodded and hurried toward the hall, her pulse racing. Jackson followed close behind, his hand hovering near her back , guiding her without touching, protecting her without smothering.

The mansion was buzzing now. Staff whispered, phones rang, the air thick with whispers of scandal.

At the top of the stairs, Savannah stopped abruptly.

Jackson nearly collided with her. “Savannah, ?”

She was staring at the portrait lining the wall. Harrison Sterling. His cold eyes seemed to follow her, calculating even from the painted canvas.

“He planned this,” Savannah breathed. “From the very beginning.”

“Yes,” Jackson said quietly.

“And Delilah helped him.”

“She thinks she did.” Jackson’s jaw clenched. “But Delilah’s just a weapon. Harrison is the one pulling every wire.”

Savannah swallowed, staring at the portrait. All her life, she’d believed monsters hid in shadows.

Now she knew better.

Sometimes monsters built empires.

Jackson touched her arm lightly. “Let’s go.”

But Savannah didn’t move.

Something inside her shifted , a small spark, a whisper of strength she didn’t know she still had.

“Jackson?”

He paused. “Yes?”

Her heartbeat steadied.

Her spine straightened.

“I’m not running.”

His head snapped toward her. “Savannah, ”

“No,” she said, louder this time. “I’m not letting your father destroy me. Or you.”

Jackson stared at her , a long, stunned silence , and Savannah saw something flicker in his eyes she had never seen before.

Respect.

Fear.

And something dangerously close to admiration.

Grayson appeared behind them, flushed and frantic. “We need to leave, now.”

“No,” Jackson said slowly, eyes locked on Savannah. “We stay.”

Grayson blinked. “What?”

Savannah lifted her chin.

For the first time since their marriage began, she wasn’t drowning.

She was choosing.

“Let them come,” she said. “Let them ask their questions. I don’t scare easily anymore.”

Jackson exhaled slowly, awe bleeding into his expression.

And then , for the first time since the scandal broke , he smiled.

Not cold.

Not controlled.

A real smile.

One meant only for her.

“As you wish,” he murmured.

But the moment shattered instantly.

The front doors of the mansion slammed open.

And Harrison Sterling’s voice echoed through the foyer like a thunderclap:

“Jackson. Savannah. We need to talk.”

Savannah felt her blood run cold.

The war had found them.