Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 249

*Did you guys know she's still trying to overturn her dad's verdict? A convicted killer trying to clear his name? It's the funniest joke I've heard all year.*

*Overturn what? The evidence was rock solid. The court literally slammed the gavel on him.*

*Murder is in her blood. Imagine having the audacity to play the victim for a killer. So shameless.*

*She's definitely using the appeal for clout to boost her follower count and distract from her own shady past.*

Staring at the vicious, vitriolic text, Willa couldn't take it a second longer.

She slammed the power button, threw her phone onto the sofa, and curled into a tight ball against the cushions.

The baby in her womb seemed to sense her distress, kicking frantically against her ribs.

"Shh, baby, don't be scared," Willa whispered, placing a protective hand over her stomach, but the tears were already spilling over, hot and uncontrollable.

She had convinced herself she could turn a blind eye to the malice.

But when the avalanche of hatred actually crashed down on her, the sheer weight of it made it impossible to breathe.

Just then, her phone buzzed against the upholstery, making Willa flinch violently.

She peeked over the cushion. When the name "Sophie" flashed on the screen, the dam finally broke.

"Willa!" Sophie's voice exploded through the speaker, vibrating with poorly concealed fury. "Deactivate all your socials immediately! Stay off the internet, and do not reply to anyone you don't know!"

Tears and snot streamed down Willa's face. She opened her mouth, but no words came out—only the ragged, pathetic sounds of her trying to inhale.

"Willa?" Sophie's tone shifted instantly from anger to sheer panic. "Are you crying? Did you see the article?"

Willa bit down hard on her lip, desperately trying to suppress the sobs, but a wretched whimper tore through her throat anyway.

"Willa, talk to me! You're scaring me!" Sophie yelled through the receiver.

"Sophie..." Willa finally choked out, her voice shattered into a million pieces.

She couldn't manage another syllable. She buried her face in her knees and completely broke down, sobbing hysterically.

"Willa-dear!" Sophie's voice spiked an octave. "Stop reading that garbage! Stay exactly where you are. I'm coming over right now."

Sophie waved her off, and Mrs. Gable took the hint, quietly slipping away to give the two friends some privacy.

Willa cried until her throat was raw and aching. Slowly, the sobs subsided into hiccups. She slumped against Sophie, utterly drained, her eyes staring blankly at the wall.

Sophie looked down at her, her own eyes red. "Are you feeling a little better?"

Willa nodded weakly. "Yeah."

Sophie grabbed a handful of tissues from the coffee table and handed them over. "Wipe your face. You look like a mess."

Willa took them, scrubbing her cheeks and blowing her nose.

Sophie shifted to look her squarely in the eye. "Willa, I need to tell you something, but don't panic."

Willa's heart dropped. "What is it?"

"That article—I had someone dig into it, but we hit a dead end. The IP address is overseas, bounced through a dozen different proxies. Whoever set this up is a professional. They came fully prepared. This isn't the work of an amateur."