I snap my mouth closed at Cassie’s revelation, stunned at Dina’s audacity. Yet at the same time, not surprised at all.

‘It was all a bunch of crap.’ Cassie pouts. ‘I bought a bit of weed at college and sold it to some of my friends. No biggie. I think I even got you to try a spliff once, remember? Anyway, Dina said she’d bought some off me one time – I don’t even remember if that’s true. But she must have realised it could hurt my career. She bled a few thousand out of me over the next couple of years. I couldn’t think how to get rid of her, so I had no choice; I had to keep paying her off. Until one day she just stopped asking.’

‘When was this? When did she stop asking?’

‘Just before your wedding, actually. That was the last demand. I remember it because she asked me to put the money into a different bank account that time – a British account.’

I try to stop myself from physically reacting to this last piece of information. To keep my face as neutral as possible. ‘I’m sorry she did that to you, Cassie.’

‘Yeah, well, so am I. She better not show her face around here again, that’s all I’m saying.’

I nod, realising that Dina’s behaviour might have something to do with the way Cassie’s been treating me lately. It doesn’t excuse her, but at least it sheds some light on it. ‘Thanks for telling me.’

Cassie shrugs. ‘It’s all in the past now.’

I think of the two instances I’ve spotted Dina around Shaftesbury recently. Of the silent phone calls I’ve been receiving. If she really is back, then I have to hope she’s changed, because it wasn’t just Cassie that my sister treated badly; the last time she called me, she was way out of line. Almost out of control. I feel an overwhelming urge to confront my sister right now. To have it out with her. If I spot Dina again, I won’t hesitate to go after her. To make her explain why she treated me the way she did. Why she was so dismissive of everything I did for her. Why she seems to hate me so much. I give myself a shake to try to dislodge these bitter emotions. ‘Okay, well, I better get back to my party.’

Cassie doesn’t reply. She merely nods and walks away towards the lounge, presumably to retrieve her boyfriend.