If you had a proper contract, talking to a lawyer should fix your payment issue.

As others have pointed it out they were not your friends in the first place.

I’m lucky as I have managed to gain a true friend through work, but it takes a lot of time spent together, I’m not sure if it is even possible remotely.

If you are remote ppl can also use you as a scapegoat for issues they have that you are not even remotely responsible for.

I’m sorry you had this experience.