Thanks for being so open and vulnerable - Goals are a double edged sword - I always go into something with 100% effort but only 75% emotional investment. Sorry to hear those guys toyed with you - To your question - yes this hits a cord with me - Sounds very similar to what happened to me.

I work as a script consultant for television and film. Often I am critical of other writers - but that's my job - Sometimes though, admittedly I can be a little too harsh - Had one person who I figuratively shit on end up working as a executive for a financer I approached looking to fund a film I wanted to make.....

He said there were no hard feelings - Told me my script just needed work - gave me notes and told me to rewrite it. 6 months and 10 rewrites later I realized he was gaslighting me and had no intention of ever helping me make my film. Again as with your story - karma came back around - They were stealing money from the company and released. He now sells used cars.

Hope you have a good one. E.