Updated Feb 25, 2026 • ~4 min read
POV: Gabi
“Please state your name for the record.”
“Gabriella Sofia Moreno.”
“And what is your relationship to the defendant?”
“I’m his wife. Soon to be ex-wife.”
“Can you tell the jury when you first discovered Mr. Vale was using your identity?”
I take a breath.
“Two months ago. My phone glitched and showed his notifications. Dating app messages. I investigated and found profiles using my photos.”
“What did you do when you discovered this?”
“I confronted him. He claimed it was market research for his business.”
“Did you believe him?”
“At first, I wanted to. But something felt wrong. So I hired a private investigator.”
“And what did the investigation reveal?”
“That Brandon had been scamming women for two years. Using my identity. My photos. My name. Meeting them. Taking their money.”
“Were you aware of any of this activity?”
“No. I had no knowledge until two months ago.”
“Did you ever receive any of the money Mr. Vale obtained from these women?”
“No. It all went into his business account, which he controlled. Then he gambled it away.”
“Did you participate in any meetings with the victims?”
“No. I was working. I have alibis for every single meetup.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Moreno. No further questions.”
Then it’s the defense attorney’s turn.
He stands.
Smiles.
It’s not friendly.
“Mrs. Moreno, you testified you had no knowledge of your husband’s activities.”
“Correct.”
“But you were married to him. Lived with him. Shared finances.”
“Yes.”
“And in three years of marriage, you never noticed anything suspicious?”
Here we go.
“He was careful. He hid it well.”
“Or you chose not to look.”
“Objection. Argumentative.”
“Sustained.”
The lawyer rephrases.
“Isn’t it possible you suspected something but didn’t want to know?”
“No.”
“You never noticed large withdrawals from your accounts?”
“He handled the finances. I trusted him.”
“Ah. You trusted him. So you gave him complete control over your money.”
“We’re married. That’s what couples do.”
“Or that’s what someone complicit would say.”
“Objection!”
“Withdrawn.”
But the damage is done.
The jury heard it.
“Mrs. Moreno, you’re a photographer. Successful business.”
“Yes.”
“And you had access to professional photo editing software.”
“Yes, but—”
“So you could have created these fake profiles.”
“I didn’t.”
“But you COULD have.”
“Technically, yes, but I DIDN’T.”
“And your husband claims you were involved. That you helped create the profiles.”
What?
“That’s a lie.”
“Is it? Or is that just your version of events?”
“It’s the truth.”
“YOUR truth. Not necessarily THE truth.”
I’m shaking with rage.
“I was at work when these meetups happened. I have witnesses. Clients. Contracts. I wasn’t involved!”
“Isn’t it convenient that you have alibis?”
“It’s not convenient. It’s the truth!”
“Mrs. Moreno, you stand to benefit from your husband’s conviction, don’t you?”
“What?”
“In the divorce. You’ll get assets. Maybe a settlement.”
“I don’t want his money. There IS no money. He gambled it all!”
“But you’re angry. Vengeful. You want him to pay.”
“I want justice!”
“Or revenge?”
“Objection! Badgering the witness.”
“Sustained. Move on, counselor.”
The lawyer smirks.
“No further questions.”
I step down.
Legs shaking.
Did I mess up?
Did I sound guilty?
Nix meets me outside the courtroom.
“You did great.”
“He made me sound complicit.”
“He tried. But you held your ground.”
“The jury looked skeptical.”
“The jury has seen the evidence. They know you’re innocent.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’ve been watching them. They’re not buying the defense’s story.”
I want to believe him.
END OF CHAPTER 16
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