Teresa wasnโt afraid anymore. In the past, she had always chosen to put up with Irene and keep quiet, all because she loved Jonathan. But at that moment, Irene had started targeting her.
Teresa didnโt look at Jonathan. She stared straight at Irene.
Teresa said, โDuring the two years I was married to Jonathan, Irene would use her status as my mother-in-law to come over and humiliate me whenever Jonathan wasnโt home or was away on business.
โSheโd repeatedly insult me, saying I couldnโt do housework, couldnโt take care of my husband, wasnโt a good wife, and was just a pretty face with no real value. She called me a vixen who was ruining her son, accused me of being manipulative, and so on.
โWhile Jonathan and I were still married, Irene would constantly try to push other women toward Jonathan, encouraging them to get close to him.
โShe went so far as to threaten, intimidate, and order me to divorce her son, telling me to make room for other women and not to hold back his career.โ
โThatโs nonsense!โ Irene interrupted Teresa without even thinking. โTeresa, stop making things up about me!โ
โEvery word Iโm saying is true,โ Teresa said, raising her hand. โIf I utter even a single lie in this courtroom, may I never have a good end.โ
All those old wounds came rushing back for Teresa as she spoke. โThose two years of marriage were nothing short of a nightmare for me. Ireneโs constant criticism and belittling made me doubt myself again and again, and in the end, I fell into depression.โ
โTeresa, shut up! Your depression is none of my business. Donโt blame me for your problems,โ Irene snapped.
โLet her finish!โ Jonathanโs cold voice suddenly interrupted Irene.
Seeing Jonathan take Teresaโs side, Irene turned to the judge with tears in her eyes. โYour Honor, this womanโs sob story has nothing to do with the case. We really donโt need to listen to all this pointless talk.โ
As she said this, she shot a look at the high-priced lawyer sheโd hired, hoping heโd jump in and speak up for her.
The plaintiffโs lawyer naturally sided with Irene and pressed Teresa with a question, โMs. Johnston, as I understand it, youโve already remarried Mr. Lynn. If you dislike Irene so much, why would you choose to marry him again?โ
Seeing that Teresa wasnโt answering, the plaintiffโs lawyer quickly turned to the judge. โYour Honor, Ms. Johnston is deliberately trying to frame my client.
โShe keeps insisting sheโs telling the truth, but a woman whoโs already remarried her ex-husband is coming to court to accuse Irene. How is that not lying? Your Honor, I request that she not be allowed to continue.โ
Teresa couldnโt hold it in anymore. โThatโs becauseโฆโ
But before she could get the words out, Jonathan jumped in and interrupted her, โI havenโt remarried Teresa.โ
Except for Gary and Jennifer, who already knew the truth, everyone else looked at each other in confusion while Ireneโs eyes went wide.
Irene froze on the spot. โWhat did you just say? You and Teresa arenโt remarried?โ Even the plaintiffโs lawyer was left speechless for a few seconds.
Jonathan said heavily, โTeresa and I are both still single. We never officially registered our marriage again. We are not remarried.โ
Irene immediately protested, and she thought, โDidnโt they announce their remarriage to the media? Thatโs why Iโve been so furious these past few days.โ
She planned to use that opportunity to get Teresa thrown in jail and force Jonathan to divorce her, so that Jonathan would get full custody of both children. That was what she had in mind all along.