Chapter 537
Jennifer said wryly, “Ever since you did that DNA test with Mike, I haven’t had a single good night’s sleep. Every night has been a nightmare. I’m terrified of losing everything—my career, and even Donald.”
Sanford asked, “Why?” This was exactly the question that had been on his mind all along.
He pondered, “Why is Jennifer so afraid of Mike being exposed? She’s only his aunt. It’s not like we’re in some old-fashioned system where the whole family pays for one person’s crime.”
Jennifer lowered her gaze and said, “I’ve found a lawyer for you. If you want to fight this, you can consult with them.”
Sanford shook his head and said, “No need. I’ll do the time. I was too impulsive. That’s the devil’s own doing.”
“Yeah, impulsiveness is the devil,” Jennifer suddenly mused with a sigh.
Sanford said, “Jennifer, what’s this secret you’re so desperate to hide? I have to know. Has Jonathan never once suspected that Mike might be his son? What exactly are you so afraid of?”
Jennifer fell silent. After a long pause, she said, “You remember? When I first arrived in Nareigh, I told you I’d met my sister Teresa.”
Sanford replied, “Yeah, of course I remember. You were supposed to come find me in Shaville, but then you said you’d found your sister. You said she was having a hard time, and you wanted to take her away from Nareigh.”
Jennifer said, “Yes. Back then, I hadn’t fully reconnected with Teresa yet. She told me she was divorced, and that her marriage had failed.
“I just found out that, even after the divorce, Teresa secretly had Jonathan’s child. Honestly, she was so oblivious. She didn’t even notice that Mike kept sneaking out to see his dad.
“Eventually, Jonathan got suspicious and collected hair samples from both of them for a DNA test.”
Sanford’s heart jolted. He asked, “Then what happened?” He pondered, “Logically, since Jonathan had the DNA test done, he should have known Mike was his biological son.”
Jennifer explained, “Jonathan gave the DNA samples to Donald and asked him to arrange the test at our hospital. When Donald wasn’t looking, I swapped the samples!”
Sanford exclaimed, “Are you insane? That’s illegal. If this gets out, you’ll lose your medical license.”
Jennifer said, “I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. All I wanted was to help Teresa hide the child’s identity, and I honestly believed I’d soon be able to take both her and Mike away from Nareigh.
“That’s why I resolutely tampered with the DNA test results.”
Sanford paused for a moment, then he asked, “What happened next? Did the DNA test show Mike wasn’t his son?”
Jennifer said quietly, “Yeah, Jonathan didn’t question the results either. I thought that would be the end of it.
“Who would’ve thought? Just one look at Mike’s face, even Jonathan’s friends, not to mention Donald, started questioning Mike’s true parentage.
“By then, I’d already fallen for Donald, and I’d decided to stay in Nareigh for him. I couldn’t lose Donald, nor could I give up the career I took such pride in.
“So I had no choice but to keep falsifying the DNA test reports, again and again. That’s how it all happened.”
The pieces all fell into place for Sanford. He finally understood why Jonathan had never realized that his son was living right under his nose.
He also understood why Jennifer, proud as she was, would humble herself and beg him not to expose the truth about Mike.
Sanford’s emotions were incredibly complex as the truth finally sank in. He said, “What’s the point? Living in constant fear like this, how exhausting it must be for you.”
Jennifer said, “I made one mistake. After that, I had to tell lie after lie just to keep it going. Exhausting as it is, it’s still better than losing everything—I have so little left–I can’t afford to lose any more.”
Sanford’s emotions grew even more tangled. Finally, his expression turned serious. He said, “I have a solution, one that will reveal the truth about Mike without you having to suffer the consequences.”