Chapter 11 - Brandon Brought Another Woman to Court
By the time our first significant court hearing arrived, the story had become public enough that Laura warned me to avoid the courthouse’s main entrance.
I refused.
Not because I wanted attention.
Because I was tired of behaving like the accused.
Jessica walked beside me.
My parents followed.
Across the steps, several people held phones.
Some recognized me.
Most probably did not.
But everyone recognized scandal.
Brandon arrived ten minutes later.
And beside him was Vanessa.
I stopped walking.
Jessica muttered, “You have got to be kidding.”
Vanessa wore a cream-colored suit and dark sunglasses.
She did not look at me.
Brandon did.
For one second our eyes met.
Then he placed his hand against Vanessa’s back and guided her through the entrance.
It was deliberate.
A performance.
If he wanted to hurt me, he succeeded.
But not the way he expected.
Seeing them together did not make me want him back.
It made the final pieces fit.
Inside, Vanessa’s attorney clarified that she was cooperating regarding her prior affidavit and financial dealings.
Brandon’s side attempted to characterize her as an unreliable former partner.
Which was almost funny, considering they had introduced her affidavit weeks earlier as trustworthy evidence.
Laura highlighted the contradiction.
Quietly.
Precisely.
No dramatic speech.
She did not need one.
Then came the disputed document.
The alleged joint asset authorization agreement bearing my signature.
A forensic examiner had compared the signature to more than thirty authenticated samples.
His conclusion:
The questioned signature contained significant inconsistencies and appeared to have been simulated.
Someone had forged it.
Brandon’s attorney argued Brandon did not create the document.
That might have been true.
But the document had been found in Patrick’s possession.
And Brandon had attempted to use it at the bank.
During questioning, Brandon claimed he believed I had signed it.
Laura asked where.
“At my parents’ house.”
“When?”
“I don’t remember.”
Earlier, he had said three days before the wedding.
Now he did not remember.
“Were you present when she signed?”
“I think so.”
“You think?”
“Yes.”
“What was she wearing?”
Brandon looked confused.
“I don’t remember.”
“Who else was present?”
“My parents.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
“Do you remember the conversation?”
“Not exactly.”
Laura displayed photographs from my bridal preparation day.
Timestamped throughout the date printed on the agreement.
Morning.
Afternoon.
Evening.
I never left Hotel Mirador.
Then she displayed building access records.
I had entered the hotel spa at 9:12 a.m.
A banquet planning room at noon.
My suite at 4:16.
Dinner downstairs at 7:09.
I was surrounded by witnesses.
Brandon’s story collapsed.
But the most dramatic moment came when Laura asked Vanessa about her previous affidavit.
Vanessa took the stand reluctantly.
“Did Melanie Rivera ever tell you she intended to marry Brandon and take his family’s money?”
“No.”
“Have you ever spoken privately with Melanie Rivera?”
“No.”
“Why did you sign a statement claiming otherwise?”
Vanessa looked at Brandon.
He stared straight ahead.
“Because Brandon asked me to.”
The room went quiet.
“What did he offer?”
“Twenty thousand dollars.”
“From what source?”
“The wedding account.”
A murmur moved through the courtroom.
Brandon’s attorney objected.
The judge restored order.
Vanessa continued.
“He told me his wife had overreacted and his parents only needed temporary access to the money.”
Laura asked, “Were you romantically involved with Brandon during his engagement?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“Yes.”
“For approximately how long?”
“About fourteen months.”
I stared at the table.
I had expected the answer.
Hearing it publicly still hurt.
Laura asked:
“Did Brenda Alvarez know?”
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
“Did Patrick Alvarez know?”
“Yes.”
“Did they object?”
“No.”
I closed my eyes.
Not one of them had stood beside me honestly.
Even at my wedding.
After the hearing, Vanessa approached me.
Jessica immediately moved between us.
Vanessa stopped.
“I’m not here to fight.”
“Then why?”
Her eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
I said nothing.
“I believed him too.”
That sentence reached me.
Not enough to erase what she had done.
But enough to make me listen.
“He told me he was only marrying you because Patrick had tied his debts to him. He said after the finances were fixed, he would leave.”
“How romantic.”
“I know.”
“You signed a lie that could have ruined me.”
“I know.”
“For money.”
She lowered her head.
“Yes.”
“At least you admit it.”
She reached into her handbag.
“I have something else.”
Jessica tensed.
Vanessa handed me an old printed photograph.
At first I did not understand.
Then I recognized the location.
My wedding venue.
But the date written on the back was six weeks before my wedding.
In the photograph were Brandon, Patrick, Brenda—and Vanessa.
They were standing beside the wedding coordinator.
I looked at her.
“What were you doing there?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Brandon brought me to the venue.”
“Why?”
“He told me he wanted me to see where the ceremony would happen.”
My stomach turned.
“That’s cruel, but why does it matter?”
She shook her head.
“You don’t understand.”
She pointed to a woman standing near the far edge of the photograph.
A woman I had never seen before.
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Rebecca Shaw.”
“So?”
“She works for Mendoza Residential Holdings.”
My pulse accelerated.
Vanessa continued.
“The meeting wasn’t about your wedding.”
“It was about the debt.”
“Yes.”
“And they met at my wedding venue?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vanessa’s answer would reveal that the plan had been more carefully organized than any of us realized.
May you like
“Because Brandon told them the money would be available the night of the reception.”
---
Related Stories
