“She said that I needed to know if people truly liked me without my money.” I could feel my face color as I cringed with embarrassment, “She thinks that I believe that I can buy my way out of any mistake I make. She also told me that I had to stop trying to buy people’s affections.”

Dylan sat silently as I struggled to ward off my emotions. I couldn’t help but resent the woman who had used her money to ensure she never had to raise me.

“So, if you ever felt like I was trying to buy you I apologize, but I guess you got the last laugh by filing that suit against me.”

“Helena, I…” Dylan stumbled in her attempt at responding to my unnecessary remark.

“Again, I apologise” I quickly filled the gap, “I don’t know why I said such a thing, it was blatantly unfair of me.”

“No, it wasn’t.” Dylan said quietly as she focused on the crisp white linen cloth which covered the table. “What I did to you was unforgivable and I can see that it was foolish of me to believe anything else.”

“Dylan, I can’t pretend that what you did wasn’t hurtful but I truly didn’t come here to punish you.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I just struggle with the idea of trusting what you say to me.” I explained as I held her gaze and desperately wanted to be rid of the doubts that lingered.

“Can you really not tell the truth from the lies?” She asked, clearly dismayed at my loss of faith in her. Still, it’s bound to happen when someone you love tries to sue you for loving them.

“What you did…the law suit was so unexpected. I thought I knew you, I thought you felt the way I did.” I elaborated further, unsure of where this conversation was likely to conclude.

“No part of me wanted what happened to you.”

“Then how could you do it to me?” I countered.

“You don’t know Danny, what he is capable of.” She insisted.

“Do you really take no responsibility for your actions, Dylan?” I responded bitterly, “He couldn’t have done that without your assistance. When did it stop being about us and start being about extortion?”