Jacob's shout jolted me back to reality. I wasn't in the basement anymore.

I panicked and stammered, "N-No... I didn't mean to. I'm just not used to using cutlery."

In the basement, I had to fight the dogs for scraps if I wanted to eat.

At first, I refused. I would have rather gone hungry than lowered myself to that level. But when they saw I was being defiant, they beat me with sticks and forced me to crawl over and compete with the dogs.

My legs were broken, so I could only drag myself across the floor. The dogs bit me all over, but I still cried and shoved the filthy food into my mouth through the stench.

If I lost the fight, I didn't just go hungry; I had to bark like a dog to entertain them.

Rachel reached over and held Jacob's hand, pretending to be kind and understanding. She said, "Ms. Barnes probably just needs time to adjust. She just got out of the basement."

Jacob looked at the food on the table with disgust and said coldly to the maid, "Clear the table."

Even though I was terrified, I reached out instinctively to shield the dishes and said in a trembling tone, "No... Don't take them away. I'll eat them. Just give them to me."

It had been so long since I had seen a clean, proper meal like this. I couldn't bear to let it go to waste.

Jacob looked at me with pure contempt. "You're disgusting, Grace."

With that, he stood up, took Rachel by the hand, and walked out of the dining room. "Let's go eat somewhere else."

Once they were gone, I shoved the food into my mouth like I had never eaten before.

Suddenly, my stomach twisted violently. I jumped up and ran to the bathroom. Leaning over the toilet, I threw up everything I had just eaten.

I remember once, they beat me so severely that I was unconscious for two full days. They were afraid I might die—and that they'd have trouble explaining it to Jacob—so they finally called a doctor to treat me.

The doctor told me my body was failing and that I wouldn't live much longer without proper treatment. He said I should start preparing myself for the end.

I pulled myself to my feet and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face was as pale as a ghost, with a jagged scar across it. I didn't even recognize myself anymore. I looked like someone who was already halfway gone.

The next day, Jacob handed me a strapless gown and said, "Put this on. You're coming with me to a banquet tonight."

A banquet?

Before my family fell apart, I used to attend events like that all the time. But I no longer belonged in those circles.

"Mr. Morris, can I not go? You could take Ms. Allen instead."

The moment I refused, his expression turned dark.

"Do you think I want to bring you? If my client didn't care so much about family appearances, I wouldn't even consider it. Look at yourself. You're a walking embarrassment!"

My body trembled as I remembered the look on his face four years ago when he wrongly believed I had pushed Rachel down the stairs.

It was the same expression, and it scared me so much that I instinctively dropped to my knees and bowed my head in fear.

"Mr. Morris, don't be mad. I'll go. I'll behave. Just don't send me back to the basement. I'm begging you!"

Jacob looked stunned for a moment, then sneered. "You'd better behave. If you ruin this deal for me, you'll regret it."

"I won't. I promise I won't."

All I could do was cling to him and do whatever he asked, just to avoid being locked up again.

That night, the ballroom glittered with lights and laughter.

I stood beside Jacob in that strapless gown, layered in concealer to cover the scars on my body. I looked almost like a normal person.

When he told me to toast the client, I raised my glass nervously.

The client stared at my hand, surprised. "Ms. Barnes, your fingers…"

I froze.

Back in the basement, they had used all kinds of tools to punish me. They ripped out my fingernails one by one, so my fingers were now twisted and deformed.

I murmured, "I… I had an injury."

The client nodded politely.

Humiliated, I made an excuse and slipped away to the restroom.

Rachel followed me in and said, "Grace, listen closely. Jacob is mine."

I said nothing.

She slapped me hard across the face. With no one else around, she dropped the act and glared at me with pure malice. "Weren't you so arrogant before? What? Cat got your tongue now?"

When she first returned to the country, she taunted me over and over. I used to argue with her, unable to hold back my anger.

But four years in the basement had stripped me of my pride and dignity. There was nothing left to defend.

"Ms. Allen, I wish you and Mr. Morris a happy life together."

Rachel narrowed her eyes, a smug smile playing on her lips. "I'm glad you finally understand your place. If you dare go after Jacob again, I'll make sure you rot in that basement for the rest of your life."

After she left, I dragged my weak body out of the restroom. Suddenly, blood started dripping from my nose, and it wouldn't stop.

I pressed my fingers to my nostrils to stop it, but it kept coming, soaking the pale gown in red. My legs gave out, and I collapsed.

Someone walking by saw me and shouted, "Help! Someone passed out! She's bleeding everywhere! Is she dying?"