Old Dreams Lie Shattered

She stared at me in disbelief. "You're willing to do that?"

I looked at her with a hint of confusion, and her bewildered expression slowly gave way to a surge of anger.

"You're being passive-aggressive? Do you think a petty trick like that is going to work? When did you learn such underhanded tactics? I told you how much I despise pretentious men."

Nicole's father had been unfaithful throughout her childhood, and she and her mother had spent years fighting off outside mistresses and illegitimate children.

It was only after a grueling struggle that she managed to take control of Lohan Corporation.

Back when we were young, Nicole used to hold me close and say, "Andy, the thing I despise most in this world is a pretentious homewrecker."

And yet, wasn't I the one whom the media was now mocking for looking like a pathetic homewrecker?

"So, what would you have me do?"

I wore an impeccable smile, my expression tinged with a polite helplessness.

"Could we perhaps hurry this along? Our son is going to be late for school."

Nicole bit her lower lip in frustration and forcefully kicked her chair over.

"Andy, when did you become like this?"

Irritation flashed across her features; she was clearly annoyed by how different I had become from the person I used to be.

Perhaps I should have spent the whole night calling her phone, my eyes red with tears, demanding to know why she had taken wedding photos with another man.

Why was my face now covered by such a thick, emotionless mask?

"I know."

Without waiting for a reply, I pulled up Steve's contact and sent him a voice message:

"Steve, I'm sorry. I accidentally liked the post about you and Nicole yesterday. It won't happen again."

"Is this acceptable?"

I turned back to Nicole, but instead of relief, her face showed a deep swell of anger accompanied by a trace of almost imperceptible unease.

Nicole stepped forward and took my hand.

When her wild and untamed gaze met mine, it carried a rare hint of tenderness. "Andy, you could question me. Have you forgotten? We're a married couple."

She gently straightened my collar, her voice softening considerably. "Steve and I only did that because of the company's new product launch..."

I gently raised a hand to stop her.

"I trust you, Nicole. You don't have to explain."

I curved my lips into a smile, though it failed to reach my eyes. "Our son is going to be late."

Her expression darkened slightly because her words were cut short, though she recovered quickly and offered, "I can take him to school."

"There's no need," I gently declined.

"Andy! I am his mother!"

I let out a soft sigh. "Nicole, do you even know which school our son attends? Do you know if he's in kindergarten or elementary school?"

Nicole was instantly struck speechless.

"If you tell me, I'll know..."

Looking with a pang of guilt at our son, who was standing beside me and bore a striking resemblance to her, she knelt down slightly.

"Sweetie, I'm sorry. Why don't I take you to school today?"

Our son, Wayne, shrank back behind me, looking at Nicole with unfamiliar, guarded eyes.

The very next second, however, Nicole's phone buzzed.

She answered it immediately, and Steve's voice came through. "Nicole, Denise has waited for you for a long time... Please hurry over, she's throwing a tantrum and refusing to eat."

Without casting another glance at our son, Nicole turned her full attention to the phone. "I'm on my way. Have Denise wait for me at the street corner."

With red-rimmed eyes, Wayne buried his face in my arms.

"Daddy, does Mommy not like me?"

I gently patted his small, tender back, feeling an overwhelming sense of futility.

I called my mother-in-law.

"Emma, it's been eight years. I have no intention of honoring the contract any longer. My marriage with Nicole ends here."