romm, you weren’t working “freelance”, you were working as a temporary employee. In most states (in the US) if the person to whom service is rendered (the employer or principal) has control or the right to control the worker both as to the work done and the manner and means in which it is performed, then you are an employee, not an independent contractor.
Reference: California Independent Contractor vs. Employee
They’re getting a good deal because they are not incurring the cost of formally employing you (paying payroll taxes, minimum wage or overtime, complying with other wage and hour requirements such as providing meal periods and rest breaks, etc. Additionally, “employers” do not have to cover independent contractors under Workers’ Compensation Insurance)
I won’t ask what the hourly rate was that they were paying you, but it had better be significantly more than $10.
Designer’s Code… you’re dreaming, there ain’t no such animal.