After taking a deep breath, a decision formed in his mind.
"If my son were still here," he muttered to himself, "he would have definitely stopped me. He always hated it when I had to beg."
Slowly, he got up, bowed to Ronak, and whispered an apology that was only audible to him. Then, without another word, he turned and began to leave.
The others in the crowd were disappointed, and some even clenched their fists in regret.
Ivy didn't stop him.
Though Ivy pitied Matt from the depths of her heart and truly felt compassion for him, she knew the harsh reality: if she dared to help him in front of the entire crowd, others would inevitably rush forward to exploit her kindness.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, a man suddenly pushed through the crowd and dropped to his knees before her. His desperate voice echoed through the heavy silence.
