All Too Late

“I don’t love you,” Samuel said coldly. “In the past, I didn’t understand what love was. You saved my life, for which I was grateful, and I naively thought that was love. But when I heard that Kathleen lost our children, I finally realized I don’t love you.”

He had rushed to the hospital back then and heard from Wynnie that Kathleen managed to pull through.

Their children, unfortunately, didn’t make it.

At that moment, the one thing that Samuel panicked most about was what would happen to him if Kathleen died.

If Kathleen left this world, where would I go to find her?

In that instant, he realized who he truly loved.

Kathleen! I love Kathleen and I can’t lose her!

Nicolette, on the other hand, couldn’t believe her ears. “You love her? But you just said you didn’t know what love was.”

“That may be so, but I do know that I don’t have that feeling when I’m with you,” Samuel retorted. “I might have already fallen in love with Kathleen from the day she became my wife. I just hadn’t noticed then.”

“Samuel, if it weren’t for your family’s disapproval, we’d have gotten married long ago!” Nicolette whimpered as tears coursed down her cheeks.

Alas, Samuel remained cold and distant. “If relationships can’t stand the test of time, it’d mean there wasn’t true love. I’ve probably never liked you that much, which explains why I gradually fell for Kathleen after you left. Or perhaps, my being with you was just a form of rebellion. The more my family disapproves of something, the more I want to go against them.”

“How could you treat me like this, Samuel?” Nicolette asked amidst sobs. “Don’t you know you’re my only hope?”

I’ve painstakingly put on this act for so long because of him, yet he’s now telling me he doesn’t love me? No! I won’t allow that!

“Since you’ve saved my life before, I’m willing to wipe the slate clean between us,” Samuel uttered calmly. “From today onward, we’ll have nothing to do with each other. I’ll arrange for you to start a new life abroad and also ensure that you’ll live comfortably for the rest of your life. However, you are not to show up in front of Kathleen again. I won’t allow you to bother her either.”

Nicolette continued to cry, indignant at the way Samuel had treated her.

Her goal had always been to marry rich so she could haughtily return to the Yoegers and laugh in their faces.

Now, however, all her hopes and dreams were shattered.

She had nothing left.

On the other end, Samuel promptly hung up the phone and turned to Tyson.

“Tyson, have you prepared everything I told you to?”

“There’s just a bit more to go.”

“Hurry up, then.”

Tyson nodded. “Understood!”

up, it was already

opened her eyes and saw Emily

Wynnie Staines’ elder sister, which made

was only right for Kathleen to

replied as her lips curled into a

an air of ladylike elegance, while Wynnie

a

by the visit, Kathleen blurted out, “Aunt Emily,

way, I’ve made some mushroom soup. Try some,” Emily replied as she poured a bowl of soup and placed

the latter drank it immediately and felt it warming up her

I’m sorry to have

grin. “Your mother-in-law’s busy, so she got me

shook her head. “I

again. It’s really

don’t need anything, Aunt Emily,” Kathleen mumbled as she quietly finished

let out a sigh. “It’s heart-rending to

merely pursed her pale lips and

did Samuel say?” Emily asked

wants to live

they have until it’s gone,” Emily uttered. “The whole family has

turned out, Emily

and being in that powerful position gave him

were many times when he refused to accept other people’s opinions

a painful loss before he finally understood what everyone else had been

Kathleen

about you?” Emily

if I were

the rest of the world forced him to do so,

been a viable option, things wouldn’t have had to drag

was thinking about it again, she realized how laughable

one who wanted a

his mind, but it became

that, the two of them went

person. If

still had feelings for Samuel and didn’t want

ever truly understand my good

weak, but she knew she loved

anything more as she watched Kathleen finish her food. Afterward, she chatted a bit more with

was alone, Kathleen decided it was time to do something

further ado, she walked into the bathroom and took a warm

standing under the showerhead, her hand instinctively