As the DNA mismatch results were announced, Jolie and Aniston breathed sighs of relief in their hotel room. They embraced each other and burst into laughter.
Jolie playfully pinched Aniston and quipped, "Martin, that rascal, always kept us dangling. How could he end up with some random woman?"
Aniston replied with a mischievous grin, "Let's brainstorm. How can we make that woman look bad?"
Jolie agreed, "Absolutely, we can't let her off the hook. She almost led me astray." She paused for a moment and added, "Considering Martin's cunning nature, she won't have an easy time."
However, Martin's success in this matter didn't sit well with Aniston, who shifted the conversation, saying, "Angie, I recall you mentioning that you faced harassment from Harvey Weinstein when you were younger."
Jolie was stirred by painful memories and confirmed, "Yes, I've always yearned for justice."
Aniston whispered confidently, "Well, here's your chance."
...
In Beverly Hills, Stewart, who was enjoying a slice of melon, was dumbfounded. How could this have nothing to do with Martin?
As it involved friends and neighbors, Charlize also watched the live broadcast. When she witnessed the turn of events, she couldn't help but smile and shake her head.
"These women are crazy about money!" Stewart grumbled, his mood soured by the live TV broadcast. He accused, "There's something fishy about this test! Martin Davis must've bribed these people!"
Charlize, sighing inwardly, wondered why she had fallen in love with him in the first place and persevered for so many years. She left the room and retreated to the tranquil courtyard, lost in thought.
After Martin's call, Charlize inquired with the community committee and learned that the damage to the trash bins was indeed deliberate.
Unsurprisingly, it was likely Stewart who had kicked them.
Not only had he kicked his own bins, but he had also sent Martin's flying into the neighbor's yard. It was a rather embarrassing situation.
...
In another hotel, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, and Brad Pitt exchanged puzzled glances.
"How could this happen?" Pitt couldn't believe it.
Cassie exclaimed, "Martin must have pulled something off!"
Ben shook his head, "Something's not right. Martin has always had a strong rapport with the LAPD. With his considerable assets, bribing people would be too easy. It's too late."
Pitt began to suggest a course of action but halted abruptly as a major development unfolded on the live broadcast.
Inside the hall, Aisha confronted Toni from across the room, her voice raised, "We promised that sisters would never betray each other. How could you do this?"
Another girl, quick to speak, appeared ready to confront Toni aggressively, "You disappeared without a word. We were so worried about you that we even sent our sisters to your hometown to find you. But what happened? What did you do?"
Security personnel rushed in to restore order amidst the escalating tension.
Amidst the tumultuous scene, reporters fired off questions:
"What happened between you two?"
"Do you know who the father of the child is?"
"What is your relationship with Toni?"
Chaos ensued, but Martin and his team were well-prepared, with Bruce taking the lead and managing to gain Jodi's cooperation.
Judy forcefully wrestled the microphone from a staff member and exclaimed, "Quiet down, everyone!"
The clamor swiftly subsided.
Judy continued, "It's too chaotic for any meaningful questions. Ma'am, can you tell me about your relationship with Toni and why you feel betrayed?"
A microphone was handed to him, courtesy of Elsa.
Toni's heart raced, and she desperately shouted, "Elsa, we're like sisters! Closest of sisters!"
The first time Toni appeared on the news with her child, Elsa had refused to acknowledge her as a sister.
"Last year," Aisha began, detailing the outrageous antics of their sister group in Los Angeles and New York, "we formed a sister group because we were infatuated with Martin and the lifestyle he represented. We frequented his events, all of us fantasizing about marrying Martin and bearing his child..."
Aisha gradually reached the crux of the matter, "We joined the community board in the North District of Sunset Boulevard and kept an eye on the trash cans at Martin's house, hoping to find something. But we never found what we were looking for."
The reporters were astounded by the audacity of these women, even those who thought they were well-informed.
Elizabeth felt a sense of relief, knowing that she had properly disposed of Martin's belongings.
"Enough! Enough!" Toni cried out, "Stop talking! I told you to stop!"
Toni's frantic reaction only confirmed the truth of Elsa's words. Her emotional turmoil was evident.
The reporters could tell how deep the sisterly love had been and how much she now resented the betrayal. Aisha pressed on, "It was Toni's idea. She claimed that after Martin won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, he'd throw a lavish party. So, she switched shifts with a colleague, took me to Martin's trash cans the morning after the Oscars, and indeed, we found condoms with genetic material inside."
Aisha, speaking rapidly, cleared her throat and continued, "We brought them home. I attempted to use them, but I failed. Toni told me she was returning to her hometown, and I believed her. However, she succeeded and kept it hidden!"
The other two girls chimed in, "Bitch, you said you'd share with us!"
Then, they turned on Aisha, "You're also a Bitch, doing this behind our backs!"
"These items came from Martin's trash cans!" A quick-thinking reporter deduced, "Since it's not Martin's, it must be someone from Martin's family."
This realization prompted many in the vicinity to focus their attention on Bruce.
Toni's eyes lit up; it didn't matter if it wasn't Martin's, as long as it wasn't Bruce's.
Bruce, fully prepared, produced a paternity test and declared, "I just had it compared, and it doesn't match at all!"
A notary affirmed, "That's correct."
The situation had taken a bizarre turn. Leonardo and Nicholson, initially enjoying the spectacle, quickly retreated into the crowd to avoid being caught up in the drama.
Though confident it wasn't them, they wanted no part in the unfolding chaos.
The scene descended into utter chaos. Even Toni was bewildered, unsure of who the father of her son could be.
"Could it have been used by some homeless people and discarded?"
"The North District of Sunset Boulevard is a gated community; homeless people can't enter. I suspect someone is playing pranks!"
"Regardless of who the father is, we can be sure it's not Martin."
"Toni, how do you respond to this?"
Reporters surged forward, Toni forced to retreat, unable to provide an immediate answer.
As chaos engulfed the room, Toni suddenly remembered the amulet and cradled the child in her arms. She pleaded, "I want to breastfeed the child, I want to breastfeed the child."
Witnessing the woman holding the child, reporters instinctively made way for her.
Toni hastily retreated into a nearby lounge, but before she could catch her breath, another door swung open, and a strikingly beautiful girl in a short windbreaker entered.
This girl possessed captivating beauty, but her eyes burned with a fierce intensity akin to a hungry wolf.
Two LAPD officers guarded the lounge's entrance to the hall, preventing anyone else from intruding.
Toni, now gripped by guilt, stammered, "Who are you? What do you want?"
Lily declared, "Let me make this clear. If you publicly admit that you falsely accused Martin, apologize to him, and reveal the instigator behind your actions to the Los Angeles police, I will tell you the identity of the child's father."
Toni, filled with doubt, responded, "How do you know?"
Lily's voice was soft but resolute, "Not only do I know, but I am certain that he is also a star. Don't you desire wealth? A life of luxury? He can provide that for you."
She sneered, "Of course, you have another option: you extorted $10 million, a felony! You are an honorary citizen of Los Angeles and a national hero of the United States. Do you grasp the gravity of your actions? You're openly defying the Los Angeles city government and the Washington authorities!"
Toni had never considered this aspect and was momentarily stunned.
Then, she realized, "$10 million in extortion? Did I really do that? Oh, God!"
Lily continued, "You'll go to jail, and your child will be placed in foster care. Do you comprehend the hardships endured by children in foster homes?"
Toni gazed down at her son and inquired, "What happens if I do as you say?"
Lily responded, "You're a fan of Martin, and he has always shown leniency toward his fans. He understands that you were manipulated by others. You acted under their influence, right?"
This made sense to Toni, who thought of Ben and Cassie, feeling a twinge of regret.
Little John began crying again, and in a mother's heart, the choice between her son and her friends was clear.
Toni clenched her teeth, "How can I trust you?"
"I can start by giving you clues about the child's father," Lily replied, her demeanor reminiscent of a fallen angel from hell.
She had gathered information about Stewart from the community committee the day before, learning about women frequently visiting Charlize Theron's house in search of him. Combining this with Martin's findings, Lily could make a plausible deduction that might be close to the truth.
Toni felt cornered. After a brief hesitation, she relented, "Fine, I agree."
Lily divulged, "His name is Stuart Townsend. He's Martin's neighbor and Charlize Theron's fiancé, also a Hollywood star."
Toni, familiar with the community committee, asked, "Is it him?"
"The garbage bags you were searching for were disposed of by him," Lily finally revealed, "Consider this: you're in jail, and all of this is meaningless."
Toni had just finished nursing Little John and promptly exited the lounge without further delay.
Media reporters remained gathered outside, still eager for answers.
Though her hands trembled, Toni turned to face Martin, deeply bowed, and uttered with sincerity, "I'm sorry, Martin. You're a good person, and I shouldn't have falsely accused you."
She cast a glance at the child in her arms, straightened herself, and continued, "Little John has nothing to do with you. I was manipulated and coerced by others into doing this. It was not my intention."
With the key figure admitting to framing Martin, there was no doubt about the matter.
A reporter nearby asked loudly, "Do you know who the father of the child is?"
"At the time, I deduced it was Martin's neighbor," Toni confessed, desperate to avoid jail, keep her son, and secure a prosperous life. Like a pawn being pushed by Big Ben, she was easily moved forward by Lily.
She revealed the answer, "His name is Stuart Townsend!"
Stuart Townsend, watching the live broadcast from home, was left in shock.
Even from the comfort of his home, the heavens had thrown a curveball his way!