This is a true story. The names have been changed—but the pain, the grief, and the devastation are all real.  I couldn’t use my own name while writing this. The grief, the shame, the sorrow—it was too much. It choked every word. So I told the truth the only way I could: through a voice just far enough away to let me finish what needed to be said.

 

My wife, Tracy, was the victim of a romance scam that used AI-generated video calls, love bombing, emotional grooming, and deep deception. It took everything—our money, our future, our family— and eventually, it took her life. We didn’t see it coming. By the time we understood what was happening, we were already too far down a path we couldn’t return from. I lost the woman I loved to something I couldn’t fight: a digital lie dressed up in promises, dreams, and just enough “truth” to make her believe it was real.

 

This book isn’t just a warning. It’s a memorial. It’s a confession. It’s the only way I know how to make sure her story isn’t forgotten, and that maybe—just maybe—someone else might see the signs before it’s too late. Tell someone. Talk about it. Shame thrives in silence, and I won’t be silent anymore.

—M.D. White

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