He accused me of speaking like a stranger.

Perhaps I was speaking like someone he hadn’t heard in years: his mother, who used to insist he save half his birthday money before buying toys.

We ended that call without agreement.

But a week later he sent financial records and asked to discuss repayment terms.

For the first time, he was responding with information rather than an accusation.

I did not confuse that with an apology.

Still, it suggested he could solve problems without making them mine.