Chapter 980

For days, she had been holding onto her anger. It wasn’t fair that she couldn’t see her own grandchildren. It was humiliating to force herself to give in to Teresa. And worst of all, it stung that both children carried the Johnston name instead of Lynn.

Even Jonathan’s resentment always took Teresa’s side. Irene had been so desperate to get Teresa locked up, but at that moment, she looked over at Teresa.

Teresa took a deep breath and spoke up again. “That’s right, Jonathan and I never actually got remarried. For a bunch of reasons, we had no choice but to tell our family and friends we were back together, even though it wasn’t true. But seriously, is that supposed to be a crime?”

The plaintiff’s lawyer pursed his lips, realizing that whether they were actually remarried or not was their own business.

“Your Honor, may I continue what I was saying?” Teresa asked.

The judge nodded, signaling for Teresa to proceed.

As Teresa thought back on all those memories, her eyes, already brimming with tears, grew even wetter.

Teresa continued, “So, after Jonathan and I got divorced, I raised the kids all by myself. I didn’t tell him about them right away because I was scared of Irene… I was afraid she’d do something behind my back and steal my children from me.

“I know the opposing lawyer is probably going to ask how a grandmother could even have the right to take my kids away. That’s because Irene left me with such a huge emotional shadow during my marriage.

“I was so terrified of her, always afraid she’d stab me in the back when I least expected it.

“And honestly, my fears weren’t unfounded. Not long ago, while I was in the hospital, Irene just barged into my house without even telling me and took my kids away to her place.

“She started telling them things like how I was a bad mom and their dad was the good one, trying to brainwash them, make them hate me, and drive a wedge between me and my children.

“That’s why I got even more scared. I was absolutely terrified of this woman, terrified she’d rip my kids away from me. Seriously, what mom could ever accept having her kids just taken away like that?”

Teresa was already choked up, her voice trembling with emotion. “I never once thought about using my children to raise my own status,” she said, her words thick with sincerity.

She said, “All I ever wanted was a simple life, just to raise my kids well. Jennifer, the defendant, knew exactly how I felt. When she forged that report, I didn’t turn her in right away, not because I didn’t want to, but because I was too afraid.

“Because of my fears about Irene, I just couldn’t bring myself to tell Jonathan about the kids.

“I don’t know if Jennifer was really jealous of me, or if she was just afraid I’d end up happy, and that’s why she forged the report. But honestly, with a mother-in-law like Irene, no amount of money could ever make me happy.”

Tears streamed down Teresa’s face. “Your Honor, that concludes my statement. I hope you can understand the feelings of a mother.” Her tears were about to burst forth.

She finally let it all out. She finally told Jonathan everything, all the scars she’d kept hidden in her heart.

Jennifer watched Teresa with a sense of relief in her eyes. In that moment, she truly felt happy that Teresa was finally able to say all those things out loud.

Jonathan’s eyes shimmered with tears, memories from the past playing out vividly before him.

In that instant, it felt like something deep inside him came crashing down. It was as if the fortress he’d always believed unbreakable in his heart was being forcefully torn apart.

Irene had become the target of everyone’s criticism.