Friend, she’s used to saying “It’s not me” and having people believe her when it’s quite clearly her. The only reason she mentioned paying you back is because you’re not one of the people who’s been letting her get away with it for her entire life and she thinks saying she’ll pay you back is the way to prevent you from making good on your stated courese of action, i.e. legal consequences. You’ll never see a penny from her unless you sit her down, tell her this is not a discussion, have her sign a promissory note or contract with scheduled payments, and the first payment due right now, no other discussion. If she does not do that, she’s going to stiff you plus continue the “poor pitiful me” routine that’s worked all her life with the people who’ve known her longer than they’ve known you. How do you think that’s going to go when you don’t have the home turf advantage here?