Shirley immediately put down the cloth she was holding and walked over to the table to pick up her phone. The screen displayed 'Mom.'
Her brows furrowed slightly as she stepped out of the studio and answered the call, "Hello, Mom?"
"Oh... Shirley, what are we going to do? Your brother has accumulated a significant amount of gambling debts again, and the debt collectors have come to our doorstep. What should we do?"
As soon as the call connected, Shirley's mother started sobbing uncontrollably on the other end.
Shirley felt a tightness in her heart. "What... he's in gambling debt again?"
"Yes. Ever since your brother started gambling last year, he's been trapped in it." Her mother cried heartbrokenly, "Last year, you paid off his debts, and the big casinos banned him from entering. But he's addicted to gambling, so he's been going to gambling dens every day, and he's lost all the money you gave him before. Our house... our house has been sold... Oh... That's why when you said you wouldn't come home for New Year, your father and I didn't dare to insist. We were afraid you would find out."
Listening to her mother's words, Shirley felt a chill run down her spine, her mind buzzing and going blank.
Her brother never used to gamble, but Sofia targeted him in order to force her to leave Skyler.
Now, Sofia's goal had been achieved, but she had indirectly caused Miguel to become addicted to drugs, resulting in not only the loss of all the family savings but also the sale of their house.
Shirley felt immense guilt and regret.
"How much... how much does he owe this time?"
"F-Fifty-two thousand and five hundred." her mother sobbed uncontrollably, "Your father and I rented a house, but the debt collectors still found us. They're banging on our door and splashing paint. Shirley, I... I'm scared..."
The words 'I'm scared' completely broke Shirley down. Her eyes reddened, and she almost burst into tears, "Where's my brother?"
"I don't know. He went into hiding after he owed the money... They couldn't find your brother, so they came to find your father and me. Your father... he fainted from anger."
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