[wayout1]

Cant say that exact situation has happend but I left a company because they were treating me like a piece of gear not an valued employee and paid like crap. 3 years later they started calling me to hire me back as a freelancer at 8 times my old pay rate. Vindication?

The catch here is: YOU left them. They dont have to hire you back at all. They could see it as "oh he's only here until he finds a better offer." The loyalty factor works both ways.