Chapter 223
Isabella Langley's voice was hoarse.
"Do you have any food?"
The woman chuckled softly.
Her gaze swept over Isabella.
"Follow me."
Isabella looked up at the neon-lit sign.
The Gilded Cage.
She knew what stepping inside meant.
But hunger and exhaustion had stripped away her reason.
So had her craving for luxury.
She finally followed the woman through the door.
She had to survive.
Only by living could she get revenge on Ethan Roscente and Sophia Sullivan.
…
Reality quickly dealt Isabella a heavy blow.
The money wasn't easy to earn.
Her beauty got her hired on the spot.
The Gilded Cage provided free room and board.
That night, she finally slept well.
The next evening.
She changed into a revealing miniskirt.
A floor manager led her to a private room.
The door closed.
The soundproofing was excellent.
Not a single sound escaped.
The door opened again.
Isabella staggered out.
Her dress was torn.
Her high heels were gone.
She was down to her underwear.
Red marks covered her body.
Some were still oozing blood.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
Her voice was gone from screaming.
She clutched fifty thousand dollars in cash.
Two hours.
Fifty thousand dollars.
The corner of her mouth twitched.
She thought she was smiling.
Her heart felt like a gaping hole.
A cold wind whistled through it.
Isabella lasted three days.
Twenty thousand dollars for her battered body.
She asked to quit.
The manager snorted with laughter.
"Quit? You think The Gilded Cage is a grocery store?"
"Making thousands a day isn't good enough for you?"
Isabella insisted on leaving.
Twenty thousand was enough to start over.
The manager's smile vanished.
"Pay the penalty for breach of contract."
"Penalty?"
"It's clearly written in the contract. Five million for leaving before a year is up."
Isabella grabbed the contract.
She found the clause in the fine print.
"This is fraud! The contract is void!"
She turned to leave.
Two large men blocked her path.
"What are you doing?"
The manager smirked.
"Teaching you the rules."
"You think you can make money and just run?"
Ten minutes later.
"Manager, she's passed out."
The men stopped.
The manager frowned.
"Throw her in the storage room. No food or water."
"Yes."
After everyone left, the manager made a call.
"Mr. Lombardi, it's done as you instructed."
A cold voice came from the other end.
"Keep her locked up until she's compliant."
"Understood."
…
Isabella was locked up for three days.
She only got 50ml of water each day.
Hunger and thirst drove her insane.
She thought back to a month ago.
She was living in a luxury mansion.
Servants attended to her.
She drank bird's nest soup like water.
Now, an extra sip of water was a luxury.
"Help me…"
Only darkness answered.
Her fingers found a shard of glass in the corner.
She pressed it hard against her wrist.
A blood vessel ruptured.
Blood gushed out.
She smiled.
The door suddenly swung open.
Bright light flooded in.
"Shit! She slit her wrist!" the manager cursed.
He turned to the man leading the group. "My apologies, Mr. Lombardi. I failed in my duty."
"Stop the bleeding," the man said calmly. "She won't die."
The bleeding was stopped.
The manager threw a cup of ice-cold beer on her.
Isabella woke up.
The man used the tip of his shoe to lift her chin.
"If you really wanted to die, you should have cut your throat."
Isabella shuddered.
"It's… it's you?"
She grabbed the man's trousers.
The manager moved to step forward.
Daniel Anderson waved him away.
He crouched down to her eye level.
"Recognize me now?"
"Why didn't you answer my calls? Why didn't you help me?"
The man's smile didn't change.
"I'm not obligated to help you forever."
"The game is over. How could I help?"
His eyes swept over her wrist.
"You have the courage to die, but not to get revenge?"
Revenge?
She hated Sophia Sullivan.
But she hated Ethan Roscente even more.
Daniel Anderson spoke.
"I can help you. Like I did in the Maldives."
"Why? What's your motive?"
The man stood up.
"You don't need to know."
"We share a common enemy."
Isabella's breath hitched.
"What should I do next?"
The man's gaze turned icy.
He picked up the glass shard.
Slashed it across her cheek.
Blood poured out.
Isabella covered her face and screamed.
"Lesson one—break before you rebuild."
Early the next morning.
A private jet took off from Kyoto for Country H.
Home to the world's most advanced plastic surgery.
Isabella lay on the plane.
Her face was bandaged.
Her eyes were empty.
She would be back.
She swore it.
…
Eight in the morning.
Sophia Sullivan arrived at the classroom ten minutes early.
Hannah Morse rushed in right on time.
She held a siu mai in her hand.
A hidden soy milk was in her bag.
"Morning, Sophia! Siu mai from Granny Moore's. Super tasty. Want one?"
Hannah Morse was a top-tier foodie.
In two months, she'd found all the best food spots nearby.
The siu mai in her hand was from the most popular breakfast place.
Diced shiitake mushrooms and chicken breast.
Expensive but worth it.
She'd waited in a long line to get it.
Sophia shook her head.
"I already ate. You enjoy."
"Then I'll dig in…" Hannah mumbled while eating. "Professor Harrison is on an exchange abroad. A substitute will take over."
"The system says it's pending. Please don't let it be Victoria Lowell!"
Sophia replied.
"It probably won't be."
The class bell rang.
A tall figure walked up to the podium.
"Hello everyone, I'll be taking over for Professor Harrison this semester."
"My name is Alexander Laurent."