He had given her such a pitiful pittance for tuition, yet she had worked herself to the bone, doing more labor than any salaried maid in the Hill territory. During her years in his den, she was the only one who truly bled.
Nathan covered his face with his trembling hands, a heavy, jagged sigh escaping his chest.
That young, ignorant Isabella had only wanted to learn and become self-reliant. She had tried to buy her freedom with her own sweat. She had wanted so little—just a chance to run on her own legs.
But what had he done? He had played with her life, leading her into a "private school" that was nothing more than a cage, and meticulously designing the scene for her to meet Victoria—all so he could harvest her marrow and steal her kidney.
She was an innocent who asked for nothing but
