Bound By Fate: The Surrogate's Secret

The outside world was in turmoil, but inside Ariella's mind, there was only fury.

 She looked at the shocking headline on her phone, the accusations cutting deep. Surrogate Scandal: Secret Affair Between the Armstrong Heir and Surrogate Exposed!

The story was everywhere—news outlets, social media, gossip sites. The comments were brutal. People labeled her a gold-digger, a homewrecker, a woman trying to take another's life.

And Gabby?

Gabby played her role perfectly.

Her public statement was impeccable—a heartbroken wife, crushed by the betrayal of the surrogate she had welcomed. "I trusted her," she told the press. "I wanted her to feel like family. And this… this is how she repaid me."

Ariella felt nauseous.

But not from fear.

From anger.

She paced the room, gripping her phone so tightly her knuckles turned pale. With each passing moment, Gabby's lies spread further, turning the world against her.

It didn't bother her much what others thought; she had faced worse reactions throughout her life.

All she felt now was fury towards Gabby for trying to manipulate her. She never imagined Gabby would go this far to ruin her.

Ariella was trapped. She had two choices.

Run away or stand and fight.

She tightened her jaw.

Gabby had no idea who she was up against.

A knock at the door made her spin around. Leo stood there, his face stormy. He held up his phone, showing the same headline.

"She did this," he growled. "She orchestrated the whole thing."

Ariella nodded. "She wanted me alone. Helpless. She wanted everyone to turn against me so that when she takes the baby, no one will care."

Leo sighed sharply, running a hand through his hair. "She's going to use this scandal as a weapon in court. To show you're an unfit mother."

 Ariella's heart raced. "That witch."

Leo nodded with a serious expression. "Gabby doesn't play by the rules. She never has. If we don't act fast, she'll ensure you lose everything."

Ariella straightened her posture, determination filling her. "Then we need to make sure she loses first."

Ariella's first thought was to hide away—to step back from the spotlight and let the chaos settle.

But no.

Gabby wanted her to crumble.

Instead, she would turn the tables.

She needed strong allies. Someone who could help shape the media story, someone who could retaliate harder than Gabby anticipated.

She looked at Leo. "Do you trust me?"

He answered without a pause. "With my life."

"Great," she replied. "Because we're about to take Gabby down."

Leo grinned. "Now we're getting somewhere."

They moved quickly.

Leo made a call. Within hours, they were in the private office of Adrian Holt—one of the toughest PR strategists around.

Adrian was a threat in a suit—a man who built and ruined reputations. He looked between Ariella and Leo, fingers steepled.

"So," he said smoothly, "you want me to turn this PR disaster into a weapon?"

Ariella held his gaze. "I want you to do even more."

Adrian laughed. "I like your style."

Leo leaned in. "Gabby played dirty. We need to be even dirtier."

Adrian smirked. "Understood." He opened his laptop. "Let's take down a queen, shall we?"

Within a day, a counter-story broke the news.

A live, exclusive interview with Ariella—the wronged party.

Dressed simply yet elegantly, her expression radiated quiet strength as she faced one of the top journalists in the field.

"I know many see me as the villain," she said, her voice calm but firm. "But the reality is much darker."

The journalist leaned in. "Are you suggesting Gabby Armstrong set you up?"

 Ariella took a deep breath, her eyes shimmering with tears. "She didn't just set me up. She planned everything."

The crowd was captivated.

Ariella revealed the truth—how Gabby picked her, fully aware of her identity. How she manipulated her life. How she forced Wellington into marriage. How she ensured they were apart as kids.

The journalist gasped. "Are you saying Gabby Armstrong took Wellington from you?"

Ariella's voice shook. "I'm saying she's been in control of his life all along. And now, she's trying to take my child."

Boom!.

The internet exploded.

#JusticeForAriella began trending in minutes.

Suddenly, Gabby was no longer the victim.

She had become the villain.

Gabby sat in her sleek penthouse, gripping her wine glass so tightly that it shattered.

Blood dripped from her hand, but she didn't notice.

All she could see were the headlines flashing on the screen.

"The Truth About Gabby Armstrong: The Woman Who Ruined a Love Story"

"Gabby Armstrong: Manipulative, Controlling, and Exposed"

"Ariella Brooks Speaks Out—The Surrogate Fights Back"

Gabby screamed, hurling the remote across the room.

 That little witch.

 She had misjudged Ariella.

 And now, the entire world was watching her downfall.

Ariella closed her laptop, breathing out slowly. The interview had succeeded.

She had changed the game.

But this was far from over.

Leo sat next to her, observing the chaos unfold. "Gabby will strike back."

 Ariella nodded. "Let her."

 Leo raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you worried?"

 A slow, sly smile crept across Ariella's face.

 "Oh, I expect it."

 Because this was no longer just about survival.

This was about revenge.

And Ariella Brooks was only getting started.