Chapter 1 Watching from the Sidelines

When my brother, Sebastian Wolfe, learned of my decision, he was overjoyed.

"Cathy, you've finally come to your senses," he said. "That ungrateful bastard was never good enough for you. You should've left him a long time ago."

I could almost picture Sebastian's expression—furious that I had wasted so many years.

I turned off my phone, bitterness spreading quietly through my chest.

Yes. I should have left long ago.

I was the one who humiliated myself, clinging to memories that meant nothing anymore, grinding away by his side year after year until I had no dignity left.

Just then, Hannah's voice drifted over. "Theo, don't you think this carving looks especially like me?"

Theo lowered his head, a crooked smile on his lips. "Whether it's really like you," he said, "we won't know until we try it out."

Hannah shot him a coy glare and lightly punched his chest. "You're awful."

He took her hand and, right in front of me, kissed her deeply.

The wet sound of lips and tongues tangled together filled the room. I turned my eyes away, though my fingers tightened without me realizing it.

When the kiss ended, Hannah collapsed against Theo's chest, her face flushed.

Only then did Theo look at me. "The model's decent," he said coolly. "But you need to figure out how to simulate real body temperature. And it has to fit me perfectly."

He paused, his meaning unmistakable. "Not even the slightest difference."

My throat tightened, but in the end, I swallowed everything back. "Understood, Mr. Bennett."

I turned and took a measuring tape from the tool rack, stepping forward out of habit.

Theo's expression turned icy. He suddenly lifted his foot and kicked me hard in the lower abdomen.

The dull pain exploded through me, knocking the air from my lungs.

"Catherine, what kind of trick are you trying to pull now?" He looked down at me from above, his eyes sharp with suspicion. "You think I'd let you measure me? Do you really think your filthy hands deserve that? Disgusting."

Memories surged back. Back then, I refused to accept being forgotten and kept trying to create chances to touch him.

Once, I had deliberately fallen into his arms. He had almost remembered—until Hannah appeared out of nowhere and interrupted everything.

Theo panicked. To soothe Hannah as she cried, he locked me in the basement for three full days without food or water.

After that, every time I went near him, the punishment only grew more violent.

I endured the pain and didn't try to explain. I didn't look at them again. Silently, I picked up the measuring tape and stepped back.

"Ms. Moore," I said quietly, "you should take the measurements instead."

Seeing how obediently I retreated, Theo felt a flicker of irritation he couldn't explain.

He snorted and suddenly pulled Hannah closer. "Hannah, you do it."

She froze for a second, then leaned toward his ear with a seductive smile and whispered something softly.

Theo chuckled and tapped her cheek. "You really know all the tricks."

Then he looked at me. "Why are you standing so far away? Come over here. Watch carefully and learn."

My feet felt rooted to the floor. I stood there, stiff and unmoving.

"Did you go deaf?" His voice dropped, heavy with threat.

Hannah hurried to smooth things over, feigning kindness. "Theo, don't make things hard for Catherine. This kind of thing is embarrassing for her to watch."

"That's exactly why she's watching," he said coldly. "Back when she was begging for my attention, she had no shame at all. Why would she be embarrassed now?"