"Her mother left her when she was young and remarried a rich man and disappeared from her life completely." William paused, letting the words sink in like stones dropping into deep water. "Her father died when she was six. Leaving her alone with her abusive uncle."
Miss J's hand trembled. Her teacup rattled against the saucer. A small crack appeared in her carefully constructed composure.
"She grew up in a house full of fear," William continued, his voice growing harder. "She was neglected. Overworked. Treated like a servant. She had no one to protect her, no one to care for her, no one to tell her she was loved."
Miss J's eyes were wet now. Her lips pressed together to keep from trembling.
"She learned to survive on her own," William said. "She learned to hide her pain. She learned to smile even when she was breaking inside."
He paused, his eyes boring into hers.
"Then she married Leonardo Moretti."
Miss J's breath caught. Her heart clenched.
