Chapter 4

"From the very beginning, this has all been your version of events," I said. "If I accused you of being the baby's biological mother, or pointed at some random woman and said she was the mother, wouldn't that make everyone a suspect? If you've got the nerve, then let's do a DNA test."

Theo immediately spoke up in my defense.

"That's right! Do the DNA test! One test will clear everything up."

Shirley's face drained of color. She bit down hard on her lip.

"It's already obvious," she said stiffly. "What's the point of a DNA test?"

I held the baby in my arms. He was fast asleep, his fingers tucked into his mouth. I looked at her coldly.

"Shirley, you've been pushing me nonstop, desperate for me to admit I'm the baby's mother. Now that I'm asking for a scientific test, why are you suddenly so nervous?"

The crowd turned to her, confused.

Shirley's expression shifted instantly.

"Fine. Let's go," she said sharply. "You're the baby's biological mother. There's no doubt about it. I just hope that when the results come out, you'll finally act like a real mother and stop abandoning your own child. That's a crime."

The crowd followed us to a forensic testing center near campus.

While samples were being collected, influencers livestreamed the entire process, filling the air with exaggerated commentary.

They condemned me nonstop, calling me a heartless homewrecker and an unfit mother.

Some people were already looking up how many years I could get in prison.

After all, abandoning a baby was a serious crime. Public disgrace was inevitable. My education would be over, and my future would be completely destroyed.

I was so wronged that I couldn't even speak.

All I could do was wait for the DNA results.

I believed the truth would come out.

After hours of torture, a staff member finally announced flatly, "According to our analysis, the tested infant and Taylor Stevens have a confirmed biological mother and child relationship."

What?

Mother and child?

It felt like a lightning strike straight to my head. My mind went completely blank.

"The evidence is solid. This is conclusive proof! What else do you have to say for yourself?"

Shirley was the first to react, jumping to her feet, her voice trembling with excitement.

"Officer, you all heard that, didn't you? She's the baby's biological mother!"

The crowd erupted instantly. Insults and accusations flew at me, mixed with looks of pure disgust.

"You're disgusting! If you didn't want a child, you shouldn't have given birth!"

"Expel her! The school has to expel someone this immoral!"

"Throw her in jail! Make an example of her!"

The police officer looked at me sternly, his tone heavy.

"The facts are now clear. You must take responsibility for abandoning your baby and accept legal consequences. If you acknowledge your mistake and actively take responsibility for raising the child, a judge may go easy on you."

Theo snatched the report out of their hands, flipping through it in disbelief before shouting at the crowd.

"This report is fake! Taylor just has long hair. He didn't change his gender! How could he possibly be in a mother and child relationship with a baby? The testing center is wrong. You can't trust this!"

The moment he finished speaking, the crowd turned on him.

"This guy's been defending that social climber the whole time. He's obviously involved."

"Expose him! Dox him! Don't let him get away!"

Theo was on the verge of losing control. I grabbed his arm and shook my head.

By now, it was obvious.

I had been turned into someone else's scapegoat.

As for who benefited from all of this…

I looked at Shirley, who was practically glowing with smug satisfaction.