I grabbed Maria by the chin, my grip tightening as I stared her down. "Maria, if your father hadn't been so focused on his own ambition, switching sides to secure his position, my parents wouldn't have died. My brother, who should have been out there achieving great things, was cut down by your father's sword.
"Do you have any idea how much pain I went through? Why did you leave me to fend for myself in the Garcia Mansion?
"I've faced nothing but disdain from your family and constant roadblocks in the political world. Do you even realize how tough this has been?"
I took off my wedding dress and made love to her without waiting for her to react.
A tear slid down Maria's cheek, and I brushed it away with one hand, only to tighten my grip on her throat with the other. "Maria, I want you to see the fallout from your father's actions, even after he's gone. I've gotten my revenge, but I'm not letting you off easily. You need to feel the pain I've been through."
The heavy curtains on the canopy bed swayed all night long. Maria sobbed beneath me, her voice failing her—probably because the poison I'd slipped into her drink was kicking in. Her throat was raw, and no sound came out.