Chapter 2 A Public Humiliation

I stood frozen, my hands and feet icy cold.

They were right in front of me, doing the most shameless things without a hint of restraint.

After a low, breathless sound, Theo looked at me with open contempt.

"Catherine, did you get a good look? This is what a real woman is like. Cheap tricks like drugging someone and crawling into their bed only make people sick."

Humiliation burned through me. Without realizing it, my nails dug into the back of my hand, leaving red marks behind.

"Where did you learn that little habit?" Theo suddenly spoke, his eyes fixed on my hand as I kept scratching at my skin.

I jolted and stopped at once.

The year we were kidnapped together flashed through my mind. Every time he tried to protect me, he was beaten until his body was covered in wounds.

All I could do was cry and claw at myself like this. I hated my own helplessness. I hated that I dragged him down with me.

He would always grit his teeth through the pain and grip my wrist firmly. "Don't scratch, sweetie. I'm fine. It doesn't hurt at all."

But when we met again years later at the blind date banquet arranged by our families, the way he looked at me was as cold as if I were a stranger.

"I just got some paint on my hands. It's a little itchy." I lowered my eyes, my voice flat and calm. "It's nothing."

Theo studied me for a few seconds.

He didn't press further. To him, someone like me wasn't worth even a bit of extra thought.

Before leaving with Hannah, Theo tossed me a new order. "There's a business dinner tonight. I'm taking Hannah. Go back to my house and deliver the supplements my mom wants."

…

That evening, I carried the expensive supplements to the Bennett Residence.

When my mother-in-law saw it was me, the smile on her face faded at once.

"Put them there," she said coolly, signaling a maid to take them.

"I heard Hannah's pregnant. You finally did something right. Since you can't have children, at least you didn't stop someone else from giving Theo an heir."

I stood there in silence.

"Oh, and the diamond jewelry set you brought when you married Theo—it looks nice. You don't make good use of it anyway. It'll be a perfect reward for Hannah."

A dull ache spread through my chest. This was the marriage I had struggled to hold together for so many years.

In their eyes, everything I owned could be taken at will, used to please Theo's new favorite.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Theo. "Did you deliver the supplements? If you're done, hurry back and work on the model. Hannah's waiting for it."

"I understand."

I ended the call and fled that suffocating place.

…

Back in the studio, I threw myself fully into my work.

I didn't know how much time passed before the model was finally finished. I packed it carefully, called a courier, and had it sent to the hotel Theo had named.

Once everything was done, the last bit of strength holding me upright collapsed.

The prolonged focus and crushing pressure made my vision go black, and I fell hard to the floor.

When I came to, noisy voices filled my ears.

"Isn't she the wife of Theo Bennett?"

"Yeah, that's her! Doesn't her husband flaunt that actress Hannah Moore everywhere? She probably got sick from the stress."

It turned out a kind passerby had found me and called an ambulance.

Reporters who caught wind of it snapped photos of me lying weakly on the stretcher.

The story spread fast, and online discussions exploded about this wealthy family's love triangle.

The hospital room door was shoved open. Theo strode in, his expression dark. He slammed his phone down in front of me.

"Catherine, you're really something. Trying a new trick now? You were quiet for two days, and now you can't wait to fake being sick and push Hannah into the spotlight to get torn apart online?"

Hannah followed behind him, crying so hard her eyes were red and swollen. "Theo, everyone online is calling me a homewrecker. I'm really upset…"

Theo pulled her into his arms, full of tenderness. When he looked at me again, there was nothing but coldness in his eyes.

"Look at the mess you've made! Catherine, know your place. You're nothing more than my wife on paper—just for show!"

He pulled out a document and tossed it in front of me. "The divorce agreement. Sign it."

I almost found it funny.

After all, I had already prepared a divorce agreement of my own. I just hadn't expected Theo to be the one to bring it up first.