Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 315

After the statements dropped, the tide of public opinion took a bizarre, sharp turn.

At first, there were only scattered murmurs of doubt, easily ignored.

But by noon, the narrative completely flipped.

On the trending charts, the hashtag #RandalYatesScamMarriage skyrocketed to the top.

Willa tapped into the hashtag, greeted instantly by a massive exposé from a major gossip account.

Headline: *The Dark Truth Behind Randal Yates: A High-Society Scam Marriage. Was Scarlett Sterling Just a Pawn?*

The article was heavily dramatized, starting with Randal and Scarlett's lavish wedding. It included photos from the event, showing Scarlett in a stunning white gown, smiling radiantly.

It then presented leaks from an alleged 'insider,' claiming Randal had never intended to truly marry Scarlett. The wedding was merely a calculated stepping stone for him to infiltrate Vanguard Properties.

*[Randal Yates needed the Sterling family's connections and resources, but he refused to be chained down by marriage. Scarlett was nothing but a tool to him.]*

The final paragraph viciously dragged Willa back into the crossfire: *[As for the child, that's just a convenient excuse he's using to finally shake off Scarlett.]*

The comment section was an absolute bloodbath.

*[Scumbag! If this isn't trash behavior, what is?]*

*[They threw a massive wedding and now claim they never got the certificate? What was the wedding then, a cosplay event? My heart breaks for Scarlett, strung along for two years.]*

*[What terrible karma did Scarlett have to run into a nightmare like this guy?]*

*[Randal Yates: I need the Sterling family's wealth, but I won't marry you. Wow, his calculations are so loud I can hear them from orbit.]*

*[Basically an attempted marriage scam. He used her and tossed her aside, and now he's trying to act like a devoted father.]*

*[The rich are so twisted. I feel sick for both women.]*

*[So whose side of the story are we supposed to believe? I'm dizzy from all this drama.]*

*[Believe who? Just believe Randal is a scumbag and call it a day. That's the only factual takeaway.]*

Willa read through about a dozen comments before turning off her screen.

Arthur stepped out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup, asking tentatively, "Willa, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Willa stood up, walked to the window, and pulled the curtain open just a sliver.

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