The Lady Nun Vows Revenge by Caroline Rowland

The Silent 255

Chapter 255

In the pitch-dark courtyard behind the Bradford estate, several servants circled around Isabelle, torches flickering as they lit the scene. She'd tried to run again, but they'd dragged her back, and now she knelt at the center, bruised, bleeding, and barely able to stay upright. Hudson Bradford, their young master, was hurling insults at her as if she'd just cost him everything.

"You little whore. You think you're still some highborn lady?" he growled, jabbing a pudgy finger into her forehead.

His voice was thick with rage, his face flushed. "You're nothing but a bastard. A side-branch scrap from the Henderson family. You know how much your precious father sold you for? Ten thousand dollars. Ten thousand! You think your sorry face is worth that much? Don't flatter yourself. A top courtesan's worth more than you."

Isabelle clenched her teeth, then forced herself to lift her head. Pain throbbed through every bone, but her eyes burned with defiance. It lasted only a second.

Then she dropped her gaze, forced a trembling smile onto her bloody lips, and rasped, “Hudson, if I'm such a disappointment, why bother forcing yourself on me? Think you overpaid? Go get your refund from dear old Father. Or better yet- try buying my legitimate sister. She's the real lady, isn't she?"

Hudson let out a snort, face twitching. "Oh, I'd love to. But she's a proper noblewoman. I'm not exactly worthy."

His words might've been dismissive, but the way his eyes gleamed made it clear- he wanted her too. He just didn't dare. Marrying off a bastard daughter to curry favor with the Chancellor? Easy decision.

But no one had expected Isabelle to fight back-let alone try to run. Now Hudson's pride was bruised, and he wanted blood. "I'll give you one last chance," he sneered, his thick lips curling. "Serve me tonight, and maybe I'll let you live. Otherwise- Before he could finish, Isabelle spat in his face-blood and all.

She let out a wild, broken laugh. "Kill me if you want, you fat pig. I'll never touch you. Never."

"Whore!" Hudson roared, his body shaking with fury. "Then die!"

At his command, the servants raised their clubs and brought them crashing down. Blow after blow landed on Isabelle's body. Her bones screamed. Her vision blurred. Blood ran down her face, yet she never begged. She bit down and endured, each hit feeding her resolve.

"Serenity, should I step in?"

Eliza didn't answer. She simply watched.

The beating only stopped when Hudson's steward stepped forward, voice low and cautious. “Sir... that's enough. She's still Fletcher's daughter. If she dies, it'll be hard to explain."

again on Isabelle's broken form. "Lucky

servants lowered their clubs. Eliza, finally,

go, she murmured to Tina. "She won't die. Our work here

wasn't here to save anyone. She'd taken vows, learned medicine-her only intention had been to prevent a death. But now, as

brushed a sweaty hand over her cheek. "You won't serve me? Then serve them. My boys deserve a reward for dragging your

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Chapter 255

grinned and bowed. "Much obliged,

stilled. Her blood

wouldn't dare,"

own you," Hudson said. "I'll do whatever I

chuckled as they

with a noble lady. What a

"Please," Isabelle gasped. "Don't."

Mr. Bradford have a

weak. Their hands grabbed at her clothes, clawing and

about to rip the last of

once, plunging the courtyard into

Hudson roared. "Who put out the lights?! Get them

No one moved.

thuds. Grunts.

Another servant fell,

"Who's there?! Who

brutal kick struck his back. His body lifted off the