“Vanessa Grant, I really feel sorry for you. The person your husband has always loved is me.” Isabella Green stated smugly making Vanessa frown.

“Believe it or not, even if I were to fall down the stairs by myself today, your husband would not hesitate to believe me if I said that you did it,” Isabella said, arrogance dancing in her tone.

Vanessa was about to go downstairs to the party when she came face to face with Isabella, her husband’s sister-in-law, who was about to go upstairs.

Vanessa trembled in anger as she glanced at the smug woman. A woman who apart from revealing her vicious character in front of her, had always pretended to be soft in front of her husband and even in front of everyone in the family.

Everyone in the Jones family loved her, including her husband!

Three years ago, she thought she was lucky to be married to her true love, but when she married not long after, she learned the fact that her husband was willing to marry her and didn’t hesitate to say ‘yes’ to her proposal just because he wanted to hide his love for his Sister-in-law.

What an irony!

“Sister-in-law, you already have big brother’s child in your belly, you are still cared by many in the family even if you don’t act this out.” Vanessa looked at her slightly bulged belly and frowned disapprovingly.

How could this woman joke about the baby in her belly, it was so vicious!

“You’re right.” Isabella approached her and continued in a voice that only she could hear, “but I now want your husband to divorce you and even throw you out of .”

“You!” Before Vanessa could finish a sentence, she saw Isabella suddenly fall down the stairs.

From the perspective of the servants in the hall, it looked as if Vanessa had pushed her down.

…

The night was extremely chilly with no stars in the dark sky as it was heavily clouded, and the downpour of rain wasn't about to stop yet.

The thunders were ear piercing, and the once peaceful autumn turned too dangerous overnight as if a heavy storm was about to come in New York City.

The streets appeared desolate, but the Jones family mansion remained floating with people in a hurry, except for Vanessa, who stood still in the garden of the Jones family, all drenched and trembling for her dear life.

Her lips turned blue with the freezing coldness, and her body was becoming gradually weak, but nobody paid any heed to her as if she was invisible.

Even the servants of the Jones family who were passing by didn't even give a single glance at her, let alone ask her how she was doing!

Soon, a row of doctors in white coats appeared, and the maids took them into the mansion respectfully, but nobody cared for Vanessa. She, who is the young madam of the Jones family, was left all alone and shivering without having a person to look after her.

What a pity!

But deep in her heart, Vanessa knew what kind of status she held in the Jones family for the past three years. Even a pet raised by Mia Jones, Austin Jones's sister, had more importance than her!

How ironic is Vanessa's fate?

To top it off, Austin's sister-in-law, Isabella Green, had everything in the Jones family. With a flick of her finger, everything she needed would come to her feet because Austin Jones loved her. He only loved her, and everyone else was just dust in his eyes, including his wife, Vanessa!

A few minutes ago, when Vanessa was casually sipping wine with a relaxed look on her face while her hands swirled the glass elegantly, she saw Isabella fall down the stairs, and immediately she tried to save her but accidentally tripped herself in the process.

But Austin jumped down the stairs almost instantly and held Isabella in his embrace as if she was his treasure.

He didn't even take a peek at Vanessa, who was struggling to get up since her foot was strained, but ran the stairs with his sister-in-law Isabella in his arms and turned the house upside down in worry.

He even took great lengths in such disastrous weather and arranged for the best doctors in the city to check on Isabella's condition.

Knowing what happened, the Jones family became alert and stood near Isabella.

With great difficulty, Vanessa climbed the stairs and remained rooted beside Isabella. But none of the family members spoke to her and cast disgusting glances at her as if her very presence was appalling.

With a sigh, Vanessa held the nearby wall for support since she didn't know when would her legs give up on her while tears brimmed her vision.

Shaking her head in disappointment, she slowly strode away since there was nothing she could do except aggravate them further. Moreover, she needed some peace to gather herself and came to the back garden.

With a thud, she dropped onto the floor since she had no energy left in her body to withstand her inner torment. She weakly leaned her head with her eyes closed on the nearby wall, and slowly she drifted into sleep as exhaustion took over.

...

When she was in a deep slumber, Austin came to her, and a flash of coldness appeared in his eyes. His deep gaze turned menacing as he reminisced what happened to Isabella because of his 'dear wife'.

"Get up." He said in his dangerously cold tone while impatience was visibly dancing on his face.

Seeing no movement from Vanessa, he gave a light kick on her legs, but it hit her already strained muscles, and she yelped in pain while jolting awake.

Her yells of discomfort didn't even have the slightest effect on him, instead, he wanted to make her even more miserable but controlled himself!

She finally raised her eyes and met his indifferent silhouette, and her chest hurt glancing at the furiousness lurking in his cold eyes.

Tears swelled in her eyes, and her cheeks became wet as they flood like a burst out damn, but there was no sound. They were her silent cries displaying her helplessness and despair!

Inhaled a chunk of air, and she quickly got a grip on herself, and asked in her hoarse voice, "Austin, how is Isabella doing?"

Hearing her concern for Isabella, Austin felt it was fake, and his blood boiled, though Vanessa was really worried.

He gave a cold glance at her. If looks could kill, she would be frozen to death by now and muttered, his tone deadly and not giving her any chance to disobey, "come to the basement hall, now!"

Listening to his command, a shiver settled down her spine and her eyes widened. The last ounce of sleepiness totally vanished as she fully grasped the meaning behind his words.

She couldn't help but look at Austin in disbelief. With a gulp she decided to question him, although she understood what exactly he stated, her tone quivered, "what do you mean, Austin?"

He gave a mocking sneer that scared the shit out of her and announced, "apologize!"

Hearing him say that broke her heart, and she remained stunned, too lost in her pain that her husband, whom she loved dearly, was really doing this to her!

Peeping at her stilled figure, he gave an awful glance and grabbed her hands, and forcefully dragged her with him, not even bothering for a second while he was mercilessly hurting her legs and hands.

Austin was extremely disappointed with his wife and had no interest in even talking to her. Let alone have some concern for her!

He knew Isabella was quite weak and ill these days. Although he managed to get the doctors on time after her unexpected fall, it didn't help her in saving the little child in her womb. The fetus was already lifeless!

When he found that his elder brother's only bloodline was dead, he became an enraged beast. And knowing Vanessa was the reason behind it, didn't help him either. It was like pouring oil into the fire!

Everything was ruined. There was nothing left except punishing his wife for the unjust sin she committed, and he would make sure of it.

...

Vanessa eyed him in incredulity, she just couldn't acknowledge the fact that he wanted her to apologize when she was clearly innocent!

It felt as if she was deserted and stuck in a hellhole with no way out. Her face turned pale, and her body trembled since she knew she shouldn't keep her foot in the Jones family basement hall if she wanted to survive.

Because people who went in, never came out, and she knew it better because she had seen countless scenarios in the past years!

She felt desperate and decided to converse with Austin but she didn't know how? With an inward huff, she licked her lips and grasped her teeth in between her plump lips while squinting her eyes.

Finally, after gathering enough courage, she muttered, her voice was so soft, "Austin."

She knew he heard it but she got no response from him, and she continued, while her voice cracked in the end, "I'm innocent. Trust me."

But he paid no heed to her words, and she started struggling to become free from his grip and to prevent herself from going into that cesspool.

Her struggles irked him, and his grasp on her tightened further, making her wail in pain, but he didn't even bat an eyelid at her.

"Don't waste your words here." He gritted his teeth and added in his cold voice, "You have a lot to confess in the ancestral hall in front of all the Jones family members."

His words were like a bucket of cold water splashing on her face. Then she understood it was of no use to struggle!

She eyed Austin, who was so charming, sinfully tall, and freezingly cold, and she couldn't help but rethink what she had done.

She had gone to great lengths to marry him and even decided to cut her ties with her beloved family since they opposed their marriage.

But look at what she got from him over the years? Only indifference and coldness. He was never merciful to her and never supported her.

Deep in her heart, she had a tiny hope that one day, he would realize her love and would come for her. But would that really happen when there was already a person deeply rooted in his heart?

It was none other than Isabella. Austin's one and only love. Except for Isabella, his heart had no place for others, and what could Vanessa possibly do to warm his cold heart?

Alas, she tried every method possible on the earth that might make him come closer to her, but nope, none worked.

Because his heart would only soften for Isabella.

And what was she, Vanessa, in front of Isabella? Invisible! She was nothing but an imbecile, a worthless piece of trophy wife!

And now, she finally realized she was wrong!

But wasn't it too late already?

Grasping her situation, she muttered while a cold smile flashed across her face, her tone held no emotion, "let go of my hand."

Seeing Austin didn't leave her hand, she added in a firm tone, "I'll go on my own."

Hearing her words, he gazed at her with contempt in his onyx eyes. The suppressed anger in his heart was enraged, and he felt as if it would burst out at any moment and burn this stupid woman in front of him.

Without giving her a second glance, he walked towards the hall, leaving her behind all by herself.

She felt as if her life had turned into a joke after she had married him. Eyeing his sturdy back, she couldn't help but sneer at her foolishness for the deed she did three years ago. Well, it's none other than marrying Austin!

...

Vanessa stood in the hallway alone and glanced at her foot which were bare in the chilly weather. Her every step felt like she was walking on ice.

But Austin didn’t bother about it and didn’t even give her time to wear shoes since her comfort was never his concern!

When she was in a daze, she reminisced the incident that happened last week when Isabella Green was about to go out in her sandals in a hurry and how Austin stopped her with never ending patience, his gaze so tender and he squatted in front of her and helped her put on the socks and sneakers to keep her feet warm.

He even warned her to take good care of herself and not to get hurt, but that held his hidden concern which was known to her.

But He never gave a second thought on how Vanessa was feeling, and it wasn’t new to her now.

Still, it hurt her heart every fucking time when he did such things to her. It didn’t matter how hard she tried to not get affected, it always successfully broke a tiny part in her scarred heart.

When she was in her thoughts while dragging her weak body to the basement hall, the heavy breeze hit her, and she shivered since she wasn’t even well dressed.

Her chest hurt knowing what was coming in her way and what can she do except accepting everything that came in her way?

With a sigh, she decided to fight head-on. This time she won’t bend her head and succumb to the demands of the Jones family.

A determination flashed in her eyes since it didn’t change the cold heart of her husband even if she was obedient and that was a hard learned fact.

So, what was the point in obeying their wilful wishes when her relationship with the Jones family itself was a joke?

By the time she reached the basement hall, the members of the Jones family were all present and were eagerly waiting to watch her demise.

When she was about to occupy a seat, she heard the head of the Jones family speak in his unwaveringly cruel tone, “did you think you deserve to occupy a seat?”

After that, he gave a cold snort, “sinners like you are only allowed to kneel down here.”

Hearing his malicious words, her breath hitched, and her body quivered. She glanced at Austin hoping he could help her, but his indifferent gaze had her heart shook in immense pain as if it was cut into numerous pieces.

Her breath became labored with the amount of internal struggle she was having, and her high fever wasn’t helping her either. The throbbing headache had increased while the ache in her muscles made her sweat in the chilly climate.

There were almost twenty people present in the hall, but there was no one in her aid. Everybody gazed at her with different emotions but none of them had the tiniest bit of concern for her,

They all treated her as their demise, a devil who would break hell loose in the Jones family.

But what wrong did she do to suffer like this?

Wasn’t it unjust for her?

They wanted her to kneel down and accept the crime she didn’t even commit? Not even in their dreams!

Vanessa rooted there and eyed the old man whose face had wrinkles but the power in his tone and eyes hadn’t vanished yet.

With a determination to fight her own battle, her face turned cold, and she uttered a word for word, “I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t kneel.”

Her strong tone reverberated in the silent hall making the people’s eyes go wide with her outburst. They couldn’t believe their eyes and ears!

When did the meek woman, Vanessa Grant have the guts to against the head of the Jones family?

Seeing that, the old man’s face turned black in anger. His veins shook in his forehead and he roared while he made a sound with his walking stick which broke the nearby vase and terrified the hell out of everyone present in the hall, “Kneel down, You ungrateful wench.”

The sharp shards of glass were scattered across the floor where Vanessa stood still and a few pierced into her skin making her wince in pain but she bit her lips so hard to not make a sound.

Although she was scared, she was determined not to show it on her face.

Her legs started to bleed as drops of them were falling on the floor slowly and the pain in her body made her extremely uncomfortable while her head was spinning, but she didn’t admit defeat!

Seeing the unwavering nerve of Vanessa, the old man was pissed off. His body shook in fury which alerted the attention of Austin, and he held the old man while his gaze sent daggers onto Vanessa.

“Vanessa. Kneel and apologize now and I’d let you live in the Jones family.” The old man stated while his tone was extremely firm which made her body tremble.

Vanessa nibbled her lips hard to control the pain and held the tears in place to not let them fall down.

With her head held high, she squared her shoulders and pushed her chest out, she peeped at the old man without backing off and muttered in an equally strong voice, “I’m not the one responsible for Sister-in-law’s fall. I won’t kneel and apologize for the deeds I haven’t committed.”

Seeing the audacity of Vanessa, he announced while viciousness danced in his eyes, “since you don’t know how to accept and repent. I’ll help you learn it.”

“Force her to kneel.” The Old Master Jones said while pointing his finger, his face turned brutal as if he was ready to force Vanessa to death if she didn’t admit now!

The other members of the Jones family jumped into the conversation and mumbled, “She deserved it. How dare she act like she’s innocent when she killed Isabella’s child?”

Another cast a disgusting glance and added, “We should teach this cunning bitch a lesson.”

Mia Jones cast a disgusting glance and said in a malicious tone, “Yes, or else who knows what dirty plots she had cooked in her mind to harm the Jones family.”

They sneered, “The only bloodline of Master Jones was gone! What a pity!”

…

Despite all their hateful stares, and their mutters as if she were a clown in the Jones family, she stood tall and didn’t bow her head. Although her insides were bleeding with the harshness of the reality she was facing, she put on a brave façade, but whom did she have to vent it out? No one except herself!

Eyeing her pale face with no luster in her eyes while her legs were still bleeding, her mother-in-law, Clara Jones’s heart ached.

Since Vanessa Jonerepeatedly said she didn’t do it, her mother-in-law believed her words since she knew what sort of woman Vanessa was and she also knew Vanessa could never do such malicious deeds!

With that, Clara couldn’t bear it any longer and decided to save the poor soul. She gathered her courage and added, “Dad, she’s too young to understand all this. Why don’t we let her rest for now and in the meanwhile we can investigate the matter?”

After the words left her mouth, the hall turned chilly as if the temperature had suddenly dropped several degrees making them all shiver with the deadly glances from the Old Master Jones, and Clara immediately shut her mouth.

Sensing her persuasion in this matter wouldn’t be of any help, she strode to Austin who stood aside with an aloof and indifferent gaze, and whispered, “Austin. Take her to rest for a while. She’s your wife and she’s bleeding. We could discuss this matter another time.”

Hearing his mother’s words, his onyx eyes turned pitch black as if they would swallow everything that came his way in those depths without leaving a way to get back. His face turned stoic and he said with contempt, “Wife?”

Gazing at Vanessa, he said in a loud tone making everyone in the hall hear him, “I don’t have such a vicious wife.”

Listening to his words, Vanessa’s already shattered heart broke even further If that was even possible and her chest felt a panging pain that she became unable to breathe and disbelief was written across her face.

She squinted at Austin’s gloomy figure while her lips quivered.

Austin came forward to her and poked her chin with his index finger to reach his eye level, his piercing glare had a deep hatred for her, and he didn’t hide it either. Eyeing her pale face, he coldly muttered, “from now on, you only have yourself!”

Just by thinking of how his brother’s child ended up in a pool of blood and the reason was ‘his wife’, his blood boiled and he wanted to tear Vanessa into pieces.

With one last cold glance at her, he took his mother aside and left since his heart felt uncomfortable when he saw Vanessa.

Mia smirked as she saw the pitiful appearance of Vanessa. She was always against Vanessa and now when she got a chance to humiliate Vanessa, could she let it slide? Never!

With her clicking heels, Mia strode towards Vanessa and kicked her bleeding leg with her high heels to make her kneel down, but Vanessa held the support of a nearby wall and straightened herself without showing any emotion on her face.

Vanessa was beyond determined to not bend her head in front of the Jones family!

Seeing that, Mia sneered, “kneel down, Vanessa !”

“Don’t act so proud and arrogant! You insolent piece of shit!” Mia spat at Vanessa and kicked her legs again and again.

“Grandpa wants you to kneel down. He’s giving you a chance and you don’t even have any respect and was disobeying his order?” She sneered and Vanessa still remained the same.

Seeing that, Mia’s insides burned in rage, and she furiously gripped Vanessa’s arm and slapped her hard on the face.

With the heavy blow, Vanessa’s lips bled in the corners and her face swelled but she didn’t kneel down!

Vanessa rubbed her face with her palm while tears pooled in her eyes. Seizing her movements, Mia held her hair in a tight grip and kicked her knees with full force making her tremble!

…

Vanessa was rooted in the same place while her posture was slightly tilted and the people present in the hall were glancing at her with mocking glances.

The traces of Mia’s ruthless kicks with her high heeled shoes were still present on the back of Vanessa’s knees.

Her face was bruised, her hair was a terrible mess, the floor was stained with her bloodied legs, and the glass shards scattered across the hall. All in all, it appeared as if she was hit by a typhoon!

Well, with the viciousness the Jones family displayed, it wasn’t any less than a cyclone that was aimed to destroy her life.

Just like her broken heart, everything near her vision was broken and the room was a chaotic mess since Mia furiously broke everything near her because she couldn’t make Vanessa bend her head down!

What a shame to Mia Jones!

Even with the slightest movement, Vanessa’s body ached painfully and if she wasn’t careful enough, she would fall to the floor on her knees in a miserable way which would mean she accepted the sin and admitted defeat.

Then all the fight she had put up till now would be a waste!

However, she wasn’t willing to! She had faced a lot of humiliations in the past three years in the Jones family and she wasn’t going to break beyond repair just with this one night.

She consoled her heart and used all her strength to get back straight on her feet, but her face was scrunched up in agony when she was halfway.

A yelp was about to escape from her mouth but she bit her lips so hard that they bleed to suppress her emotions.

She didn’t want to appear weak and give them another chance to bully her!

Eyeing the pitiful appearance of Vanessa, Mia who stood aside felt she was going to apologize, and the corners of her lifted upwards ever so slightly.

A mocking sneer was plastered on her rosy lips and she anticipated a good show to unfold. She even imagined Vanessa apologizing meekly and it felt so damn good in her dreams, and she was even more enthusiastic to experience it in real life.

Observing the change of emotions in Vanessa, Austin who stood aside with an aura of aloofness suddenly had a flash of light appeared in those gloomy eyes as if he was excited to watch the show since he too felt Vanessa was finally going to admit.

But oh boy, was he wrong?

Vanessa felt she was losing her balance and she was too painfully aware of what would happen if she let her grip loose. With gritted teeth, she used all her willpower and her hands took the support of the nearby wall to not let her knees land on the floor.

She inhaled a deep breath and pressed her plump lips into a thin line while slowly she straightened her back although the pain was tearing her insides and she stood tall on her feet, while amazement was danced across the faces of the members present in the hall.

Her doe like watery eyes appeared so emotionless and there was a hidden fire in them that would burn hell loose if she was to lose to the family today.

Gazing at her stubbornness, the Old Master Jones had become so furious that his veins trembled in rage and he yelled while throwing his walking stick at her face, “Vanessa! You’ve gone too far!”

The stick hit her on her forehead and a new bruise was formed while a stinging pain erupted in her already throbbing head.

Without giving her any chance, the Old Master Jones screamed with so much intensity that made everyone in the hall hold their breaths. “Such a vicious woman like you didn’t even deserve to lay your filthy foot in this basement hall.”

“Take her away and make her kneel outside the mansion until she admits her mistakes. It didn’t matter how much time or how many days it would take!” He announced and a shiver run down Vanessa’s spine.

He glanced sideways and his eyes met with Austin’s cold gaze and the Old Master Jones added with disgust, “Have your best men keep an eye on this vile witch.”

Austin nodded and when he was about to take Vanessa away, the Old Master Jones added, “don’t let her move nor give her anything to eat until she admits what mistakes she did.”

Vanessa turned to face Austin and opened her mouth to explain what happened, but he strode towards her and hooked his hand on her neck, and put on an iron grip while his next words made her believe it would be of no use.

“Kneel down!” Austin’s dangerous tone boomed in the hall making everyone’s hair stand up in fear and his force was doubled.

Vanessa, a weak woman who was already suffering from fever and bodily injuries couldn’t tolerate his forceful strength and she was dropped onto the floor with a thud.

Her knees hit the broken glass pieces and she felt as if her kneecaps were broken, but still, she tried to get up, but Austin didn’t let her and added in a no nonsense tone, “Either Kneel down or you would be driven out of the family.”

She couldn’t help but mutter his name in disbelief while her forehead was wrinkled, “Austin ?”

“We family didn’t need to have such a malicious daughter-in-law.” Austin eyed her and uttered in utmost seriousness making her face turn livid.

His words cut deep into her heart and the impact they had on her poor soul was immense. She felt as if she was about to have a panic attack as she couldn’t breathe but she gripped her nails into her hands so hard that they bled to not let them see her suffering.

How can he, the man whom she loved so dearly for three years could do this to her without any remorse?

She even fought with her beloved family and cut all the ties just to carry his family name.

But what did he do to her except force her into a corner and make her miserable!

She knew he would never offer his protection to her but still, she felt it was hard to believe that she literally meant nothing to him in these three years of their married life which was no less than a joke!

While she was struggling internally while kneeling, the pain on her knees and external bodily injuries caused her a lot of pain and she felt as if her body was pressed to a thousand sharp needles at once!

But they didn’t compare to the silent tears her heart was shedding. The amount of agony and the scars he had left on her heart will never fade!

Her one foolish decision three years ago had changed her from a princess to a servant. No, even a servant of the Jones family would be treated better than her!

Slowly, she raised her trembling eyelashes and wiped the teardrops with the back of her hands, and raised her head to meet Austin’s indifferent gaze.

There were tinges of ruthlessness lurking in those pools and were ready to swallow her alive and she shivered!

His expressionless face felt like she was stabbed with a sharp knife in her heart several times. She even felt it would be better if she could die only once instead of getting stabbed mercilessly so many times!

Eyeing all of the Jones family members, Vanessa was beyond stunned by the atrocities they were committing. How can they be this cruel to her and accuse her without even investigating?

They just believed in the baseless accusations of Isabella Green and went to great lengths to torture her!

Great! If they were so adamant about making her suffer, then there was no need for her to stay here.

With that, she muttered while her hands rested on the ground to give her the support she needed, “I’m innocent! I didn’t do anything to Isabella yesterday. She fell down the stairs on her own.”

After she said that, she propped herself up and staggered a bit before she stabilized her bleeding feet. Her eyes peeped at Austin’s tall silhouette as if this was the last time she was going to be this close to him and continued, “but I know nobody would believe my words.”

With a sigh, she said in a determined voice while her body was shivering badly and she pinched the middle of her brows to be strong because she didn’t know when she would collapse, “I want a divorce, Austin Jones.”

...