Chapter 981
Jennifer’s defense lawyer followed up, “Your Honor, it’s only natural for a mother to protect her child. Please understand that Jennifer acted out of concern for her sister, and I ask for your leniency. Please don’t let good people lose heart.”
“What do you mean? So, I’m the bad guy now? You… All of you…” Irene swept her gaze around the room. “Why are you all giving me that look?”
Seeing herself become the target of everyone’s blame, Irene just couldn’t take it anymore.
She jabbed a finger at Teresa, her voice rising. “She’s the one turning the tables. She tricked my son into marrying her, then worked him to the bone and never spent a dime on him.
“She’s got no money, no ability to raise the kids right. If the kids stay with her, they’ll only be led astray. I’m thinking about the children here.
“As their grandmother, I just want my grandsons to get a better education and a better life with us. How is that wrong?”
“Enough!” Jonathan’s low, commanding voice cut Irene off. “From now on, you’re not allowed to say a single word.”
Irene pouted stubbornly. “I have to say this. Teresa calls me the bad one, but she’s the real one at fault. She made my grandson come early on purpose. She did it just to spite me. She didn’t care about the baby’s life at all.”
“I said shut up!” Jonathan’s voice was like ice.
Ignoring Jonathan’s murderous glare, Irene shouted, her voice full of grievance, “I won’t stay silent. Why is everything suddenly my fault? She embarrassed me like that. Doesn’t she have anything to answer for?”
Seeing Irene’s emotions spiraling out of control and disrupting the court proceedings, the judge called out, “Order in the court!”
Irene was furious but dared not speak, feeling even more stifled. Especially when she saw Jonathan’s thin lips pressed into a tight line, his gaze so cold it seemed like he wanted to throw her out right then and there.
The very next second, Irene shouted, “Your Honor, I want to battle Teresa for custody of the kids.”
At that moment, everyone in the courtroom, except Jonathan and Teresa, was thinking, ‘Has Irene gone completely crazy?’
Irene was crying and making a scene, jabbing her finger at Teresa and venting all her rage. “She doesn’t deserve to raise these kids. Both of them should have Jonathan’s last name. Why should she get to take them both?
“She won’t even let us have one of the children, and she just won’t let go of my son! I’m going to fight her for custody.”
The judge slammed his gavel down, clearly annoyed. “This court is only here to hear Jennifer’s case, not any other disputes. Plaintiff, take your seat at once and keep quiet.”
Irene refused to sit down. She jabbed a finger at Jennifer. “Then give Jennifer a harsh sentence. She’s just as bad.”
Jennifer shouted, “Fine. Go ahead and sentence me! Seven or eight years? I don’t care! Irene, you damn old hag, you’re the worst person here.
“You’re just as rotten as your father. If you dare try to take Teresa’s kids again, I’ll kill you! When I get out, I swear I’ll kill you!”
If it weren’t for the two police officers holding Jennifer back, she honestly looked like she was about to tear Irene apart right there in court.
“Calm down! This is a courtroom!” a bailiff shouted.
That shout jolted Jennifer back to her senses. Only then did she realize she’d played right into Irene’s hands.
Standing there in front of the judge up on the bench, she blurted out the one thing she never should have said.
Her defense lawyer rubbed his temples, shaking his head with a heavy sigh. Teresa could see Jennifer had been goaded by Irene into saying something she’d regret. She’d just threatened to kill someone right in front of the judge, in open court.