Cover of Dear Debbie

Dear Debbie

by Freida McFadden


Genre
Thriller, Suspense, Fiction
Year
2026
Pages
320
Contents

Chapter 39

Overview

Harley is confronted at home by Lisette Inghram, who reveals that Edgar survived a hanging attempt but is now severely brain-injured and in a nursing home. Rather than show remorse, Harley frames herself as the victim of Edgar’s misrepresented wealth and refuses to visit him.

The encounter exposes Harley’s extreme selfishness and lack of empathy, deepening the pattern of people around Debbie and Cooper being harmed by affairs, manipulation, and vengeance. Harley escalates the confrontation by pepper-spraying Lisette and shutting the door on any responsibility.

Summary

After returning home from the gym, Harley finds an unfamiliar silver SUV parked on her quiet dead-end street. Harley considers leaving but decides not to be driven away from her own apartment. When Harley gets out of the car, a middle-aged woman emerges from the SUV and confronts Harley by name.

The woman identifies herself as Lisette Inghram, Edgar’s sister. Lisette accuses Harley of destroying Edgar’s family by persuading Edgar to leave his wife and then abandoning Edgar. Harley internally defends herself, remembering that Edgar had seemed wealthy but had hidden that his money belonged to his wife and that a prenuptial agreement would leave him penniless after divorce.

Lisette reveals that Edgar tried to hang himself after losing his marriage, children, and stability. Edgar survived, but Lisette says Edgar now has an anoxic brain injury, cannot walk, speak, or feed himself, and lives in a nursing home requiring constant care. Harley offers only a flat apology and insists Edgar made his own choices.

Lisette asks Harley to visit Edgar at the nursing home, saying Edgar might still be comforted if Harley sat with him and held his hand. Harley rejects the idea with open contempt, saying Edgar is not her problem and that Harley will not waste more time on him.

When Lisette calls Harley a bitch and raises a hand as if to slap Harley, Harley pulls pepper spray from her purse and sprays Lisette in the face. As Lisette coughs and rubs her eyes, Harley warns Lisette to stay away or Harley will call the police, then goes inside her apartment and locks the door.

Who Appears

  • Harley Sibbern
    Returns home, coldly rejects responsibility for Edgar, and pepper-sprays Lisette during the confrontation.
  • Lisette Inghram
    Edgar’s sister; confronts Harley, reveals Edgar’s condition, and asks Harley to visit him.
  • Edgar Inghram
    Harley’s former affair partner; attempted hanging and now lives severely impaired in a nursing home.
© 2026 StoriLuna