It was Ivy who killed her own biological mother, and she didn't even leave a complete corpse behind.

If I stayed silent about this, I would be betraying the kindness my mother-in-law had shown me all these years.

Ivy's expression darkened instantly.

"Do you know how many people in Helmer City are begging me to perform surgeries? One word from me, and plenty of people will clean up any trouble for me."

She let out a cold laugh. "You really think you can shake me?"

I looked at her calmly. "Try me."

A vein throbbed at her temple. In the end, she flung her sleeve and stormed out.

The Ivy I once knew was not like this. She had a doctor's heart. Even after being scammed more than once, the next time she saw someone collapsed on the street, she would still rush forward without hesitation.

I had once advised her not to be so naive.

She had held me and said, "If everyone just stands by and watches, what humanity is left in this world? I'm not afraid of being scammed. I'm only afraid that one day someone truly in need of help dies because I hesitated, and I'd never be able to sleep again."

I didn't know when she had changed. And it wasn't only because of Mike.

More than anything, she had already become addicted to the sense of control that power gave her—and had started looking down on ordinary people.

I saw her again three days later.

She brought Mike home without warning and said in an unquestionable tone, "Mike's mother needs care. It'll be more convenient if he stays with us. I've already agreed."

I sat on the sofa, watching them in silence.

Suddenly, Ivy snapped. "Thomas, Mike saved my life. What's with the ugly look you're giving me?"

I slowly stood up. My voice carried no emotion.

"This is your house. Let whoever you want stay here."

I knew the calm wouldn't last long, but I didn't expect the trap to come so quickly.

That day, I had just finished consulting a lawyer and was still sitting in my car when the door was suddenly yanked open.

Ivy dragged me out. I slammed onto the ground. Before I could even get up, her icy voice fell like a hammer.

"Thomas, I never thought you could be this vicious. You actually hired someone to ruin Mike's hand—you're trying to destroy him."

The disgust in her eyes was like a blade stabbing straight into my chest.

"You disgust me."

I always knew Ivy was cold, but I never thought she was capable of something this cruel.

She made the whole thing up and posted it online, claiming I was a jealous, insecure husband who couldn't stand the fact that my wife had a hero who once saved her life. According to her, I targeted Mike out of pure spite.

The video she posted even included that day at the hospital—Mike on his knees, slapping himself over and over.

The internet exploded.

[Oh my God, this guy is disgusting.]

[He's jealous of the guy who saved his wife's life? I can't even wrap my head around it.]

[How does someone like this exist? He should just kill himself.]

A wave of hatred crashed over me.

My inbox filled with endless messages telling me to die. Even my personal info—down to my home address—got leaked online.

Ivy moved out with Mike, leaving me alone in that house.

Every night, someone pounded on my door until sunrise. People even threw live snakes through my window.

In just three days, I dropped ten pounds.

I couldn't bring myself to go outside. I just curled up in a corner.

Finally, the food ran out. I had no choice but to put on a mask and sneak out to get supplies.

The second I stepped into the grocery store, a man with bloodshot eyes lunged at me.

"You son of a bitch—go to hell!"

I dodged on instinct. A sharp hiss of white smoke exploded across my left arm, followed by a searing burn—my sleeve corroded and turned black on the spot.

"You ungrateful piece of trash! You deserve to die!"

Security guards tackled him to the ground, but he kept thrashing like a wild animal.

Then, someone stepped in front of me.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I know this is my husband's fault. And mine too."

It was Ivy. Her voice was soft, but she grabbed me and pulled off my disguise without hesitation.

Someone immediately recognized me.

"That's him—the scumbag from the internet!"

"Yeah, it's really that piece of garbage. Get out of here! Just being near you makes me sick."

Before I could even react, something hit me.

Eggs—one after another—slammed into my body.

Ivy stepped in front of me and took the hits.

For just a second, a flicker of disgust flashed across her eyes—but her face quickly settled back into that same loving, devoted mask.

"I know everyone's furious, and I'm not going to make excuses for my husband," she said calmly. "But I hope you can give him one more chance to make things right. Tomorrow, in the town square, we're holding a public apology."

She dragged me back home.

I pulled my arm free, my voice like ice. "A public apology? What the hell are you talking about?"

Ivy didn't get mad. She just smiled faintly.

"All of this happened because of you. You're the one who wronged Mike. Tomorrow's apology event—I set it up for you. I've already talked it over with Mike. As long as you apologize, this whole thing is over."

I stared at her face and felt nothing but disgust.

She was the one who threw me into this nightmare—and now she wanted me to stand up there and beg for forgiveness?

"I'm not apologizing," I said coldly.

Ivy just pulled out her phone and let out a soft chuckle.

"Your mother's organs were donated. There's still some ashes left. Think carefully—are you going to show up and apologize, or do you want your mother's last remains gone too?"

I looked at the urn in front of me, cheaply sealed in a cracked container, and let out a bitter laugh.

"Ivy," I said, "that's your mother in there. Not mine."

Her expression shifted instantly.

"Thomas, I've been more than generous with you, and you still have the nerve to say something like that? My mother was always good to you, and now you're wishing her dead? I'm not letting this slide."

Without another word, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me outside.

In the town square, she kicked the back of my knee, forcing me down onto the ground.

A crowd gathered immediately at the scene.

She stood there tall, righteous, and completely composed.

"I'm sure everyone's seen the news by now. It's my failure as a wife that led him to act this way. Today, I brought him here so you could all witness his apology."

Mike appeared right on cue.

He gave me a hesitant look. "Ivy, forget it. I shouldn't have gotten so close to you. It's normal for Thomas to be upset."

"Mike, you're too kind," someone shouted from the crowd. "Nice guys finish last. People like him need to learn a real lesson."

"Exactly. He should be on his knees apologizing. Everyone knows what he did."

"That's right. He should bow down and beg for forgiveness!"

The crowd's condemnation drained the color from my face. My fingers trembled, nails digging into my palms.

Ivy sighed softly.

"Mike, you're really too nice. I'm worried people are going to take advantage of you. Since you can't bring yourself to punish him, then as his wife, I'll make him apologize to you."

She grabbed my hair and slammed my head hard against the ground.

Blood poured down my temple. My vision went blurry instantly.

All the strength drained out of me.

"Thomas," she said, "do you admit you were wrong?"

I clenched my teeth, refusing to cry out. My voice came out hoarse.

"I did nothing wrong. I'm not apologizing."

She hadn't expected me to keep resisting.

Her grip tightened, her voice turning sharper.

"Do you admit you were wrong? Do you admit you were wrong?"

The pain crashed over me, threatening to break me completely.

I bit down hard on my tongue. The taste of blood flooded my mouth, snapping me back to my senses.

"I did nothing wrong," I said again. "I won't confess to something I didn't do."

If I admitted it here, in front of everyone, then even if I found proof later, no one would believe me.

I would never confess.

Ivy let out a cold laugh.

"If you won't admit it, don't blame me."

She ordered someone to bring a bucket of ice water.

"As your wife, I can't just stand by and watch you go down the wrong path."

I stared at the woman I once called my wife, my whole body shaking.

"Let… let go of me!"

Ivy grabbed me again and shoved my head down.

Just as I started to fade out, a voice cut through the crowd.

"Let go of my son."

My mother pushed through the crowd and rushed forward, pulling me into her arms.

The moment Ivy saw her, her face went completely pale.

"How… how are you here?"