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?"