"Please spare me." Tears streamed down Shelia''s face.


    "Don''t y innocent with us, youngdy. Just because you''ve yed dead andtched onto a wealthy man doesn''t mean all your problems disappear. Your benefactor has abandoned you, and now you need to find another sugar daddy to clear your mother''s 80-million- dor gambling debt. Do that, and maybe we''ll let you off the hook."


    "What? 80 million? How could there be so much debt?"


    "You tell me."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    As they exchanged nces, realization dawned on Shelia. "You''re loan sharks. This is


    illegal."


    They burst intoughter. "Illegal? Do you think you can lecture us? It''s only right to pay back what''s owed. Your mother signed the IOU herself."


    "I have nothing to do with her anymore. Why should I pay?"


    One of the men brandished her birth certificate. "A daughter inherits her mother''s debts. Do you think changing your identity will erase that? Your family''s history is all here. You won''t escape us until every cent is repaid."


    Just then, Leanna returned and asked with feigned ignorance, "What''s going on? Why is everyone standing?"


    She quicklyposed herself and sat down, but her appetite had vanished.


    "Leanna, I don''t feel well. I want to go home."


    "Is it serious? Should I drive you?"


    "No, it''s fine," Shelia said, fleeing from the room.


    Leanna watched with cold eyes.


    One of the men ced his hand on Leanna''s leg. "Leanna, shall we discuss business?"


    She smiled and stood up. "Please excuse me, I''ve paid for today''s bill. Enjoy your meal."


    With that, she left the room, leaving the group bewildered.


    Debra had received the surveince footage. She recognized those men as dangerous figures in the underworld. With this video, she could uncover some of Shelia''s secrets. She listened carefully to their conversation.


    "ying dead? What does that mean? she pondered aloud.


    Just then, her phone rang. Answering it, she heard the voice of a police officer.


    "Ms. Frazier? SCPD."


    "It''s me."


    "We''ve identified the anonymous online poster, but..."


    "Anything wrong?"


    "She''s been deceased for five years."


    "Five years ago? Dead?"


    Debra was taken aback. Her mind raced back to the words spoken by the businessmen in the video.


    "Your mother owes us five years of gambling debts. Just because you''ve yed dead andtched onto a wealthy man doesn''t mean all your problems disappear


    The pieces began to fall into ce. Soon, Debra had her answer to Shelia''s secret.


    Just then, her office door creaked open. Joe entered and said, "Madam, Mr. Nichols wants me to escort you home."