Chapter 2

Why?

There were countless nights when I hoped Jacob would show up and take me away from that pitch-black basement. But he never did.

Eventually, I stopped hoping. Even thinking about him hurt too much.

Every day, all I faced were beatings and humiliation. They would hit me while forcing me to bark like a dog.

"How dare a filthy loser like you fall for Mr. Morris?"

"You're just a dog. Don't get any ideas, or I'll beat you to death. Got that?"

They tortured me until I was covered in bruises and blood. In the end, I could only cry and repeat their words.

"I'm a dog. I don't deserve to fall for Mr. Morris."

They didn't care even when they nearly beat me to death. They just left me there to rot.

After four years of torment, how could I possibly still have feelings for Jacob? I had learned my lesson.

The thought made my throat tighten, and I choked out, "I'm sorry. I know I was wrong."

When we arrived at the villa, I had barely stepped through the door when Rachel came down the stairs.

"Ms. Barnes, welcome home," she said with a sweet smile. "What happened to you? You must've suffered greatly. Don't blame Jacob. He just wanted to toughen you up."

Jacob shot me an irritated glare when he noticed I was standing there silently.

"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear Rachel talking to you?"

I flinched and dropped to my knees immediately. "I'm sorry, Mr. Morris! Please don't be mad. I won't do it again."

Rachel looked down at me with smug satisfaction, then turned to Jacob with a helpless expression and said, "Jacob, don't be so hard on Ms. Barnes."

His tone softened instantly. "Rachel, you're too kind. If she hadn't pushed you down the stairs, you wouldn't have been stuck in the hospital for days."

Four years ago, I would have tried to explain that I never pushed Rachel. But now, I said nothing.

I knew Jacob didn't love me. Anything I did would be considered a crime to him, so explaining was pointless.

Jacob told the housekeeper to take me to shower because he thought I stank.

The housekeeper looked troubled and said, "I accidentally threw out all of Ms. Barnes' clothes while cleaning. Maybe she could wear a maid's uniform for now."

Rachel scolded her gently, "Ms. Barnes is still Jacob's wife in name. How could you let her wear a maid's uniform?"

I quickly said, "It's fine. I can wear it."

Back in the basement, they used to strip me naked and hang me up while beating me. They said I was a dog and didn't deserve to wear clothes.

I had begged them to let me cover myself, but they only laughed and crushed every last bit of my dignity. Compared to that, a maid's uniform meant nothing.

When we reached the room upstairs, the maid tossed the clothes in my face and pinched her nose. "Don't you dare dirty my clothes, you filthy loser!"

I was supposed to be the lady of this house. Now, I was just an unwanted guest—someone even the maid could step on.

I took forever in the shower, scrubbing myself with bottle after bottle of body wash. My bony frame was covered in bruises, scabs, and scars. Every drop of water burned.

When I came downstairs, I heard Jacob's cold voice. "Grace, do you think you're still the pampered daughter of the Barnes family? How dare you make us wait for you!"

I trembled and apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were waiting for me."

He noticed the scar on my face and gave me a look of pure disgust. "Get over here and eat!"

I rushed over and sat down, lowering my head. Tears dripped into my bowl.

During the four years I was locked away in the basement, my parents died in a plane crash, and my family went bankrupt. Everything fell apart. Now, I had no one.

As I reached for a dish on the table, Jacob exploded, "Grace, what is wrong with you? How are we supposed to eat with you doing this? Are you trying to make us sick on purpose?"