Chapter 3

When I entered the funeral hall, I saw Ivy stepping forward toward my mother’s memorial altar.

She was holding incense in her hand.

My expression instantly turned cold.

“Who allowed you to touch that?”

Before she could react, I knocked the incense from her hand.

The ashes scattered.

A few sparks landed on the back of her hand.

Ivy immediately cried out and stepped back.

“Uncle…”

“It burns…”

She turned and fell directly into Dominic’s arms.

Dominic lowered his head and looked at the small red mark on her skin.

His expression changed.

“She only came here to pay respects, Elena.”

“Did you really have to hurt her?”

Ivy leaned against him, tears gathering in her eyes.

“Elena, I’m sorry.”

“I only went to the wedding because I wanted to give you a gift.”

“I never thought things would become like this.”

“Uncle has already punished me.”

“I really regret what happened.”

Her voice was full of innocence.

The same performance.

The same tears.

And just like before, Dominic believed her.

For eight years, I had endured it for him.

I had told myself Ivy was just someone he protected.

I had told myself Dominic’s kindness was because he had watched her grow up.

But not anymore.

I looked directly at him.

My voice was cold.

“Dominic.”

“I’ll say it one last time.”

“Take her away.”

Everyone in the funeral hall knew the truth.

They knew Ivy Mercer was the person who killed my mother.

Whispers spread through the room.

Everyone looked at her with disgust.

The pity on Ivy’s face disappeared.

Her expression twisted with anger.

“She was just an old woman!”

“Even if I didn’t hit her, how many years did she have left?”

The entire hall went silent.

“And if Uncle hadn’t forced me to come here and pretend to apologize, do you think I would want to step inside this place?”

No one expected her to admit it so openly.

Before anyone could stop her, Ivy walked toward the memorial table.

She grabbed my mother’s urn.

A cruel smile appeared on her face.

“You don’t want me to burn incense?”

“Fine.”

“Then no one will.”

My heart stopped.

“No!”

The urn slipped from her hands.

A sharp crack echoed through the funeral hall.

Then everything became silent.

The ashes scattered across the floor.

Like dust falling from the sky.

Everyone froze.

I rushed forward.

I fell to my knees and desperately gathered what was left of my mother.

My hands trembled.

My eyes burned.

But I refused to cry in front of them.

Behind me, Ivy completely lost control.

She knocked over the memorial table.

Smashed the vases.

Tore apart the wreaths sent by the Westwood family.

The funeral hall that should have been filled with mourning became a scene of destruction.

I carefully collected my mother’s ashes.

Wrapped them in a white cloth.

Then I stood up and walked away.

Dominic followed.

“Elena.”

“Don’t take it this way.”

“Ivy just has a bad temper.”

“She couldn’t handle everyone blaming her.”

“She went too far this time.”

“I’ll arrange everything for the funeral.”

“Don’t worry.”

His words made my stomach twist.

I looked down at the hand holding my arm.

The same hand that had once held mine.

The same hand that had promised to protect me.

“There’s no need.”

I removed his hand.

My voice was calm.

Too calm.

“I don’t need you anymore.”

Dominic froze.

He stared at his empty hand.

Like he couldn’t understand why I had pushed him away.

I turned and walked down the steps.

But before I could leave the funeral hall, my phone rang.

“Ms. Shaw.”

The nurse’s voice was filled with panic.

“Your father…”

“His oxygen tube was removed.”

My entire body went cold.

I rushed to the hospital.

Holding my mother’s ashes tightly against my chest.

But when I arrived.

It was already too late.

My father’s body was covered by a white sheet.

“Who did this?”

My voice broke.

“Who entered his room?”

“I replaced all the security around him.”

“I hired new nurses.”

“How could this happen?”

The head nurse knelt on the floor, trembling.

“It was Miss Mercer.”

“She said your father was taking up medical resources.”

“She said the Westwood family had already done enough for him.”

“The hospital board agreed to stop treatment.”

“She owns shares in this hospital.”

“No one dared to oppose her.”

My vision blurred.

My hands tightened around the cloth holding my mother’s ashes.

“Don’t fight with her anymore.”

The nurse lowered her voice.

“Please, Miss Shaw.”

“You’ll only make things worse.”

I couldn’t hear anything else.

All I could see was Ivy’s face at the funeral.

Her arrogant smile.

Her anger.

Her hands destroying the last thing my mother left behind.

I left the hospital immediately.

Called a car.

And returned to the Westwood estate.

Before I even reached the entrance, I heard music.

Laughter.

A celebration.

The sound came from inside the mansion.

Then I heard Ivy’s voice.

Clear.

Proud.

Cruel.

“If Elena’s father hadn’t saved my uncle’s life…”

“Do you really think Dominic Westwood would have ever married her?”