Never Lie
by Freida McFadden
Contents
Chapter 13
Overview
In a transcript of EJ’s final therapy session, Adrienne Hale terminates treatment because EJ’s mother has stopped paying and Adrienne has received no payment for two months. Although Adrienne offers a referral to an in-network colleague, EJ takes the cutoff as a personal betrayal and becomes increasingly aggressive. The chapter reveals a clear motive for EJ’s anger toward Adrienne and ends with a direct threat that deepens suspicion around her disappearance.
Summary
The chapter is a transcript of Adrienne Hale’s final recorded session with EJ, a twenty-nine-year-old patient Adrienne identifies as having narcissistic personality disorder. EJ arrives in a friendly, performative mood, bringing Adrienne a bottle of wine and lingering on small talk about its tasting notes and food pairing.
Adrienne then explains the purpose of the session: EJ’s mother has stopped paying for treatment, and Adrienne has not been paid for two months. Because Adrienne does not accept insurance and can no longer provide unpaid care, she tells EJ this will be their last session. EJ argues that therapy has helped him and complains that he cannot afford Adrienne’s fees on his limited allowance.
When Adrienne suggests EJ should work and reminds him he is a college graduate, EJ resists and asks to keep seeing her on a "tab." Adrienne refuses, saying that would be unfair to paying patients. EJ grows increasingly resentful, accusing Adrienne of caring only about money and insisting that, because she is wealthy and successful from her book, she should not need payment from him.
Adrienne tries to manage the termination professionally by offering EJ a referral to a colleague who accepts his insurance. EJ interprets the referral as rejection and accuses Adrienne of pretending to care about him. As Adrienne maintains her boundary, EJ’s tone turns openly hostile.
By the end of the session, EJ rejects Adrienne’s apology, leaves the gift behind, and warns that she will be sorry she "kicked [him] out." His final remarks escalate into a threat, implying that Adrienne may someday beg him, which casts the session as a dangerous rupture rather than a routine ending.
Who Appears
- EJAdrienne’s patient; reacts badly to termination and leaves after making a threatening remark.
- Adrienne HalePsychiatrist who ends EJ’s treatment over nonpayment and offers him a referral.
- EJ’s motherStops paying for EJ’s therapy, triggering Adrienne’s decision to terminate treatment.
- Adrienne’s colleagueOff-page therapist who accepts insurance and is offered as EJ’s referral.