All Chapters of Seven Years, Half the Truth: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

The living room went dead silent.Linda, my housekeeper, seemed to realize she'd said something she shouldn't have. The color drained from her face.I smiled and gestured for her to sit down."Just answer whatever I ask you."Linda clutched her apron and nodded."When did you start delivering lunch there?""Two weeks ago."I thought back. Two weeks ago, I'd been run off my feet getting my studio ready to open, until I finally came down with a fever and ended up stuck in bed.I'd begged Rhett to help me, but he happened to be away on a business trip.All I got from him was one careless line: "Take your medicine on time."I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay calm."The child. How old is he?""It's a boy. He looks about five or six, and he looks a lot like Mr. Calder."Five or six.This was my seventh year with Rhett Calder.I looked down at the food packed in the lunchbox on the table.Honey-glazed chicken tenders and sweet barbecue pork. Sticky and sweet, exact

By the time I got home, the blood on my legs had dried against my skin.I didn't turn on the lights. I just sank into the couch, my last ounce of strength gone.I'd decorated every inch of this home myself. Every piece of furniture, the color of the walls, even the potted plants.Back when we lived in that rental, my birthday wish every year was for a home of our own.But now, this place felt no different from a cage.The living room lights suddenly came on. I opened my aching eyes and saw Rhett walk in.He ignored me lying on the couch and headed straight for the kitchen.Soon, the smell of food drifted over to me, and my empty stomach churned.He came out carrying a dish, and only then did he notice how pale I was.Rhett looked a little surprised. "When did you get back?"So, are you done being mad now?"I didn't answer. My eyes landed on the sticky-sweet honey-glazed ribs in his hands.In all the years I'd known him, he'd never once cooked a meal.Even when I was on my

Ring... ring... ring...Rhett had lost count of how many times he'd called. Every time, he got a busy signal.He sat in his car, coldly staring at the studio that had been smashed to pieces.He gripped his phone so hard that he cracked the screen.For some reason, he remembered the day he first leased this studio for Talia. Her eyes had sparkled like stars.She'd leaned against his shoulder and sworn she would love him for the rest of her life.But now the studio was in ruins.He'd heard Talia had smashed it herself.She'd had the guts to walk away from everything."Fine."He irritably stubbed out his cigarette."With a temper like that, she'll still show up and marry me like a good girl."He drove to a luxury apartment in the suburbs.It was the love nest he'd been keeping on the side in secret for six years.Rhett had never really meant to hide it from Talia. She was just too dense to notice until now.When he walked in, dinner was ready, and Noah was clinging to him,

Rhett was so angry he almost laughed."So this is revenge? You're using montage lies on me now?"You're pretty good at it."Then, right in front of him, I tore up the contract."Investing in me is supposed to win me back? I don't want your investment."I used to need money, Rhett, but it's been seven years. You're not the only one who's made it."I could see the veins bulging on his forehead.When he didn't say anything, I grabbed my bag to leave.Rhett caught my arm."Don't go..."I didn't come here to fight with you."Just give me a little time. Can we talk?"I shook him off without so much as a glance."Sorry, I don't have time."Instead of wasting your time on me, you should be thinking about Colette and her son."Rhett, let's just let each other go."He didn't come after me.On the way back to the studio, Brooke asked curiously, "So how did the negotiation go?"I said offhandedly, "It fell through."Brooke couldn't believe it. "That's hundreds of thousands of do

Rhett grabbed my hand like it was his last lifeline."Talia, I need to tell you something."Sensing something was off, I got him out of the police station first."Did you evade taxes?""Yeah..."He hung his head and admitted it, his voice barely audible.It was absurd.It was true he'd made a fortune over the years. It was also true he'd dodged a fortune in taxes.Apparently, even his success was another one of his montage lies."I ran the numbers. I went through a lot of it..."Cold sweat covered Rhett's forehead."Conservatively, it's close to fourteen million dollars.""What?"I sucked in a sharp breath."Can you help me pay it off?"His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees."Talia, I'm your fiancé. We've been together seven years. Are you really going to stand by and watch me go to prison?"My whole life, all the wealth we worked so hard for all these years, it'll all go down the drain!"I stood frozen, cold sweat breaking out before I even realized it.In