Gary finally realized what was going on. Irene and that lawyer were trying to use this chance to drag Teresa down with them and get her thrown in jail, too.

If Teresa had instigated Jennifer to commit a crime, then she wouldn’t be able to walk away either.

Gary was sure Jonathan had figured it out, too. He could see it from the veins bulging on the back of Jonathan’s hand. No one had expected Irene to be scheming this deeply.

Even after Teresa bore Jonathan two children, Irene could still be so ruthless to her.

At this crucial moment, when both Teresa’s and even Donald’s futures were hanging in the balance, Jennifer suddenly spoke up again.

“Because I was jealous of my sister,” Jennifer said. “I envied that she always had a better life than I, that she grew up with more comfort and privilege.

“I was even more jealous that her ex-husband was wealthier and more powerful than my own. That jealousy clouded my judgment. I didn’t want her to use her child to get back together with her ex and end up living a better life than I do.

“I’m already married, with a loving family and a husband who cares for me, but I still couldn’t stand the thought of my sister having it better. That’s why I kept selfishly hiding the truth and faking the reports.”

Her words saved the day. The plaintiff’s lawyer could only purse his lips, speechless.

Jennifer’s confession completely took Teresa out of the equation and even shielded Donald in the process.

Facing the lawyer’s questioning, Jennifer turned to Gary. “Gary can testify that my sister, Teresa, tried countless times to come clean about the truth regarding the child and to stop me from making more mistakes.

“But I threatened her and used our bond as sisters to pressure her into keeping quiet,” she said.

Gary stepped forward and took the stand, swearing to tell the truth. He testified that both he and Teresa had tried to stop Jennifer, but it was Jennifer herself who never came forward with the truth.

Irene was stunned. She stared at Teresa in utter disbelief. ‘Wait, does this mean Teresa was actually the one being threatened all along? No way. That can’t be true,’ she told herself.

“Your Honor, Jennifer must be lying!” Irene said.

“Order in the court!” The judge, having basically understood the case, fixed his gaze on Jennifer.

The judge said, “Jennifer, during your time at Nareigh Maternal and Child Health Hospital and Nareigh General Hospital, you repeatedly tampered with DNA samples or forged false reports. Defendant, do you plead guilty?”

“I plead guilty,” Jennifer replied in a low voice.

The judge nodded and turned to the plaintiff’s and defendant’s lawyers. “Do either of you have anything else to add?”

Irene was unwilling to accept that. She shot her lawyer a meaningful look. This didn’t achieve her goal.

The plaintiff turned to Teresa again. “Ms. Johnston, is what the defendant said all true? So, were you really trying to use your child to get back together with your ex and climb up in life?”

The lawyer kept trying to set Teresa up, but she wasn’t someone one could mess with. Her fists were clenched so tight her knuckles turned white as she suddenly shot a fierce glare at Irene.

Teresa said, “I want to answer the question the plaintiff’s lawyer just asked me. The reason I didn’t come forward sooner to expose Jennifer’s wrongdoing is that I was afraid of the plaintiff. This woman right here, Irene.”

Teresa pointed straight at Irene. All eyes in the courtroom immediately locked onto Irene. Even Jonathan’s gaze stayed glued to her.

Teresa spoke each word with deliberate clarity, finally voicing what she’d buried deep inside for so long. “Mrs. Lynn is the true culprit behind my divorce from my ex-husband, Jonathan.”