A Lie for Me, a Yacht for Him?

The call ended abruptly.

I turned down the reckless driver's offer to give me a ride and slowly headed toward the rundown rental.

Today marked my anniversary with Julia Rivers, and it was also her birthday. I was crossing the street with her gift in hand when a speeding sedan ran into me.

I was rushed to the hospital and had to get 15 stitches. I didn't want to worry Julia or miss out on celebrating her birthday, so I turned down the doctor's suggestion to stay for observation.

Before I even left the hospital, I got a photo from Tobias Atwood, Julia's childhood sweetheart. "Austin, thanks for the awesome gift from you and Lia. That yacht is impressive."

I was frozen in place, feeling lightheaded and disoriented.

Julia always played the part of the fragile, helpless maiden as if her family was weighing her down. How the heck did she manage to buy a yacht?

I called her for answers and heard the sound of glasses clinking and people cheering from the other end.

Julia was obviously drunk. She slurred, "Austin, you're such a busybody, aren't you? Since when do you get to make decisions for me? Quit taking yourself so seriously! I'm only dating you for fun!"

I had no clue how I made it home or how long I sat there, completely dazed, on the couch.

When Julia stumbled through the door, the smell of alcohol hit me right away. She was fumbling around, trying but failing to take off her heels.

I wasn't even surprised, because I was the one who usually helped her take off her heels when she was drunk.

She struggled for a moment, then yelled in annoyance, "Austin! Are you blind or something? Why aren't you helping me get these heels off?"

I slowly got off the couch and headed to the bedroom.

Julia's eyes widened as if she couldn't believe I was ignoring her orders. She flung her bag at me, and it hit my wound.

I clenched my teeth, fighting through the sharp pain.

"What's with the long face? I still haven't settled things with you for framing Toby!" Julia snapped.

Her temper flared again. She stomped toward me in her half-off heels and punched me hard in the same spot.

"Am I not doing enough? I cleaned up your mess. Do you realize how much I paid for that yacht? Seven million, that's right, seven million! You'll never make that much in your whole life!"

Her eyes were full of fire, and all I could feel was a heavy bitterness inside me. She finally told the truth, but it was just to make me feel small.

I thought I had found true love over these five years, but it seemed like I was just a clown in her heart. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me.

I kept my tone as even as possible and said, "I'm tired. I'm going to my room to rest."

But Julia wouldn't drop it. She clung to my clothes, her nails digging right into my freshly stitched wound. "Austin, I'm warning you—just do what you have to and stay in line!"

Before I could say anything, her expression shifted abruptly. "What's that smell coming off you? It stinks!"

The spot where she was gripping me grew wet. My wound had opened up again.