The mention of prison made Rowan's face turn white with fear.
"I... I... I'm telling the truth."
Terence said coldly, "If you tell the truth, I'll cover your son's medical bills. But you need to think carefully. What you're doing now has legal consequences. When you're in jail, who's going to take care of your son?"
Rowan's panic intensified.
She trembled and stammered, "I'm sorry, I know I was wrong. I'll never do it again, I promise. Please, for my young son's sake, let me go."
As she spoke, she snuck a glance at Darren, which infuriated him. What was she looking at him for? Was she trying to signal to everyone that he'd brought her here?
Darren said angrily, "Mr. Lockwood, you're clearly threatening her. Just because you're powerful and influential doesn't mean you can control people's lives!"
Darren then turned to Richard. "Mr. Ward, I won't say any more. I'm sure you know the truth as clear as day. You know who is real and who is fake!"
It was a smart move, feigning concession, and it successfully tipped the scales in his favor.
Richard glared at Natalie. "Natalie, you claimed the first DNA report was tampered with, but now it seems you were the one who bribed this technician to fake the results. I was such a fool to be played by you again and again."
Natalie said, "Mr. Ward, this technician was bribed, but the person who bribed her wasn't me, it was Darren."
Darren cut in, "You can say it was me, but I'm asking you and Mr. Lockwood to have some mercy and let her go. She only came here to testify because of her guilty conscience."
Elaine added furiously, "Shut up, Natalie! No matter what you say, my husband and I will never believe another word from you!"
At that point, Natalie knew it was useless to say more.
Thanks to Darren and Hanley, the Wards were now convinced that she had orchestrated everything out of jealousy for Marie's background, wanting to see her cast out and stripped of her identity as Ms. Ward.
With that belief firmly planted in their minds, the technician was just confirmation that she was the one who had bribed someone to fake the report. Anything else she said would just sound like a desperate excuse.
"If you won't believe me, then there's nothing more to say. Suit yourselves."

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