I truly had no idea that she had this hatred growing for a woman that I was growing to care about more and more. I found myself wishing that Bette was my daughter and that I could provide for her so that she could continue to do what she loved and still be able to support her family, but I decided not to interfere. Instead I came up with this brilliant idea of retiring and turning over the reins to Helena. I figured with her ego running the company and being at the helm was the only job that she would aspire to, and I was right. She was brilliant at it once she applied herself. After a year I felt confident enough to let her have it. I took off on my sabbatical without a care in the world.

I had no idea that Helena was using her position, the company name and my money to manipulate and destroy lives. When I returned, I was furious especially as more and more things came to light. At first, I stopped giving her money. She eventually met some woman named Catherine and from what I heard she was drinking heavily, selling sexual favors, and gambling herself deeper and deeper into a hole.

Once the investigations were completed, I had enough evidence to press criminal charges against her for the misappropriation of funds and insisted on mental health treatments to be part of her sentencing. I thought I was saving her from herself by locking her up and getting her the therapy that she needed. She was diagnosed as having a sociopathic personality disorder. But once again my efforts had the opposite effect and she loathes me. Some people may not understand how I could disown and disinherit my own flesh and blood and leave my legacy to another but the truth is that for the past 18 years I have felt more of a mother to Bette Porter than in a lifetime with Helena. Bette is the child that I was meant to have; she is the one that I have chosen to carry on where I leave off. She is the one that understands and shares my passion like no other. If not Bette, then who? Do I just dissolve the company or leave it in the hands of my attorneys and a board of trustees? That is not the future that I see for the Peabody Arts Foundation. That is not how I want to be remembered when I’m gone. I trust Bette to fulfill my mission and my vision. I couldn’t be happier that she’s agreed.”