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All Chapters of Old Dreams Lie Shattered: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

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

Chapter 2

Since that day, Nicole and Steve became inseparable.The media hailed them as the "power couple of Harboria's business world".Hearing this, Nicole would merely smile faintly, lowering her gaze to look at Steve with pampered affection.Even when the press speculated that Steve's six-year-old younger sister might actually be Nicole's illegitimate daughter, she offered no explanation.She simply allowed the media to compare their photographs, ultimately leading the public to conclude that the two shared a striking resemblance.As usual, Nicole offered no clarification and even came home less often.One night, as I was reading a bedtime story to Wayne, he unusually kept his eyes wide open, showing no signs of sleepiness as he played with a toy bear absentmindedly."Daddy, does Mommy have another child outside?"I stroked his hair and pulled him closer into my arms."Why would you say that? Of course your mommy only has you."I brought out a photograph taken when he was just a mo

Chapter 3

I called Nicole."Do you have any idea how the school is treating Wayne? Do you know he has frequent nosebleeds?!"On the other end of the line, Nicole replied with a casual but proud tone, "He's already attending the best kindergarten in Harboria. Andy, if you want me to go home, don't use our son as an excuse."Before I could finish what I wanted to say, a clear, pleasant male voice chimed in."Nicole, did Andy find out the teacher in charge of Wayne is my cousin... and is deliberately making things difficult for him? You know how hard my cousin worked to get into that school, and he's always so gentle. If this is because of me..."Should I go and explain things to Andy so that he doesn't take it out on my cousin? My cousin's life has not been easy."Back when I was struggling to look after my sister all by myself, my cousin helped us out a lot."Nicole fell silent for a moment, her voice gradually turning ice-cold."Andy, stop making trouble out of nothing."However, our so

Chapter 4

"No! You can't!"I stared at Nicole in utter disbelief. Wayne needed medical treatment every day.Interrupting his care even for a single day could cause serious harm to his frail body."Nicole, Wayne's health is failing, he won't be able to handle that kind of punishment! Please don't do this, it was my fault!""Of course it was your fault."Nicole scooped the little girl into her arms, soothing her gently. "Should I take you to buy your favorite toys later?"I firmly pulled Wayne behind my back, but Nicole gave a sharp look to Martin and the surrounding bodyguards.The bodyguards pinned my arms, while Martin forcefully tore Wayne away from me.I screamed, "Martin, give Wayne back to me!""Enough!" Nicole frowned. "It's because of this kind of coddling from you that Wayne has become so spoiled. How am I supposed to hand over Lohan Corporation to Wayne in the future?"Her tone softened slightly as she looked at me. "Be a good boy, Andy!"Steve's expression changed slightly,

Chapter 5

Christina Anderson pulled me to my feet as a line of bodyguards filed in behind her.Seeing my bleeding fingertips, a look of deep distress crossed her face."Didn't I tell you I was on my way? Why would you do this to yourself?"Ignoring the pain in my hands, I shoved her forward. "Christina, hurry up and check on Wayne! He stopped making a sound! Please save him!"My voice was piercingly desperate. Christina gestured for the bodyguards to break the door open.In the pitch-black room, Wayne lay collapsed on the floor.Blood from his nose had stained most of his face, and his delicate little face was completely drained of color.His eyes were tightly shut, and my heart felt as though it was being shredded to pieces."Wayne!"Christina held me back, signaling the professional medical team to step forward and examine him."Ms. Anderson, it's just a shock induced by severe blood loss."Christina comforted me, saying, "Andy, don't panic, Wayne will be fine. The doctor said it's

Chapter 6

The car had traveled a considerable distance, yet Nicole still appeared somewhat lost in thought."Aunt Nicole, are you really going to buy toys for me?"Nicole nodded gently. They were just toys.However, as she looked into the little girl's expectant eyes, she recalled Wayne's hurt expression earlier. She recalled how I had firmly pulled Wayne behind me, looking at her with guarded eyes.A sudden wave of unease and discomfort washed over Nicole. Why would her own husband and son feel the need to be on guard against her like that?Watching Denise throw herself joyfully into Steve's arms, she asked, "What kind of toys do five-year-old boys usually like?"Steve's expression stiffened.The little girl pouted in dissatisfaction, murmuring, "Mommy Nicole, can't you be only my mommy and no one else's?"Steve gently reprimanded her, but his tone lacked any real severity, "What are you saying? Aunt Nicole has her own son. Don't lose your manners just because she showed you a little ki

Chapter 7

However, upon returning home, what greeted her were only her bodyguards lying scattered across the floor, and a room engulfed in roaring flames."What's the meaning of this?!"Nicole's eyes turned bloodshot. "Andy and Wayne are still inside! Someone save them!"Without a second thought, Nicole poured a bucket of water over her head and tried to charge straight into the sea of fire, only to be held back by a bodyguard who tightly grabbed her legs."Ms. Lohan, you mustn't go in! Your husband and son have already left."Ignoring him entirely, Nicole struggled frantically to break through. Even several bodyguards couldn't restrain her."Wayne!" Nicole screamed, her voice tearing from grief. "Andy!"Just as she broke free from the guards and wanted to rush inside, a sharp slap from her mother, Emma, stopped her in her tracks, jarring her back to reality."Why are you acting like you care about them now?""Mom! Andy and Wayne are inside! I have to save them!"As Nicole tried to sho

Chapter 8

From the moment the truth about Steve and his "sister" broke in the media, Steve's proud career collapsed overnight. All his business partnerships vanished into thin air, leaving him facing a mountain of breach-of-contract penalties."How could you believe Andy's lies?! My cousin came to me crying. He said you were the one who forced the school to fire him and even banned him from working in any school in Harboria!"Storming into Nicole's office, Steve stared at her in absolute disbelief."I don't know where you got the fake news from."Steve roughly pulled Denise forward and pushed her toward Nicole. "Look at her! She's my sister! Nicole, how could you ever doubt us?"The little girl wiped away her tears, looking up at Nicole with a pitiful expression.With a heartbroken tone, Steve pressed on, "You have no idea how many times she cried when she got home—""Steve, do you take me for a fool?"Nicole threw the paternity test at his face."Do you really think I'm that easy to de

Chapter 9

After Christina brought me and Wayne back to the capital, we quickly found a matching bone marrow donor.Wayne recovered swiftly, and surrounded by the love of our entire family, his cheerful disposition slowly returned.The dark shadow cast over him by Nicole gradually faded away. On occasion, he would even timidly call Christina "Mommy".Beaming with joy, Christina pulled him into a warm hug and took him out to the amusement park."Strictly speaking, he should be calling you auntie," I murmured, then pressed my lips together.My father let out a cold snort. "Calling Christina 'Mommy' is precisely what's right."In the past, after my father remarried and wed Christina's mother, our parents had hoped to bring our families closer by encouraging a match between Christina and I.To their dismay, when I went to college, I fell head over heels for Nicole. I stubbornly refused to return to the capital and eventually followed Nicole to Harboria.My father was so mad he nearly fainted.

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