Chapter 2 – The Trial
Six months later...
The courthouse overflowed with reporters.
The case had become national news.
Not because Julián was wealthy.
But because Ernesto Salgado had spent decades prosecuting men exactly like him.
Now...
He sat behind the victim instead of the prosecutor.
And everyone watched.
Valeria entered the courtroom wearing a simple navy-blue suit.
No makeup concealed her cheek.
The bruises had faded.
The strength had not.
She took the witness stand.
The defense attorney smiled politely.
"Mrs. Salgado..."
"Did your husband ever threaten your life?"
Valeria looked directly at the jury.
"No."
The attorney smiled wider.
"So he never—"
"He never threatened to kill me."
She paused.
"He simply made me believe surviving without him was impossible."
The courtroom became silent.
She continued.
"He isolated me."
"He emptied my accounts."
"He monitored my phone."
"He decided when I ate."
"When I slept."
"When I smiled."
"He apologized after every assault."
"And every apology became permission for the next one."
Several jurors wiped away tears.
The defense shifted strategies.
"What about these injuries?"
"You could have caused them yourself."
Valeria slowly removed her sleeve.
Old fractures.
Permanent scars.
Medical reports matched every injury.
Every date.
Every diary entry.
Every photograph.
The evidence formed a perfect timeline.
There was nowhere left to hide.
Then came the final witness.
One of Julián's own friends.
The same man who laughed during the birthday party.
He lowered his head.
"I knew."
His voice shook.
"I watched him hit her."
"I laughed because I was afraid."
"I should've stopped him."
His confession shattered what remained of the defense.
Three days later...
The jury returned.
Guilty.
May you like
On every count.
Julián never looked at Valeria again.
