I can't imagine being somebody like that.

• Somebody who will tell barefaced lies to pursue wealth;
  
• Somebody who will trample over others' lives in order to make money but is devious enough to cover their tracks;
  
• Somebody who will press ahead with their greedy scheme, regardless of how many people are caught in the crossfire.

• Unfortunately, we have come into contact with somebody like that;
  
• Unfortunately, we were naïve enough to believe in basic human decency;
  
• Unfortunately, the clues were there but, with the web of lies we were told, we couldn't see them.

I try to get the situation into perspective, but I feel such a fool.

I won't elaborate on the details. Mainly because I feel ashamed to have fallen into the trap. I know the more sensible readers among you would say "You should have ....", "I can't believe you...", "I would *never* have..." . I know all that. I am a naïve, stupid little girl who sometimes (unsuccessfully) masquerades as a grown woman.

The keenest human sense, without a doubt, is hindsight. It's so easy to see now what we should have done then. Phrases which then seemed empty and throwaway can now be re-read with their true meaning attached.

We've been stitched up.

Trying not to beat myself up about, putting it down to experience and moving on is proving difficult. But it's what I know I must do.

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Yes, I know. I haven't stopped, yet. I will.