I had believed that standing by love meant something. That my devotion proved my worth.
In the end, I was nothing but a joke to them.
Five years rotting in that tenement on the wrong side of the waterfront, and none of it had mattered at all.
Dante's face went white. "What are you talking about? You were scrounging for food? I had money sent to you every month. Enough to live well."
I stared at him. "When did you ever send money?"
"In five years, all I received were your letters every few days. Not a single coin."
Dante whipped around, his eyes locking on Gianna.
Gianna's eyes reddened on cue. "Dear sister-in-law, you don't actually think I'm the one who withheld your allowance, do you?"
"I'll send someone to look into it right now. Whichever wretched little runner skimmed that money and pocketed it will answer for it."
She hurried off with her maid in tow. Half an hour later, she returned and had a scrawny young girl dragged before me, bound at the wrists and trembling so hard her knees knocked together.