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!”

Kathleen finally woke up, it was

and saw Emily sitting by

sister, which made

Kathleen to call her

you’re awake,” Emily replied as her lips

an air of ladylike elegance, while Wynnie was a tough,

sisters, without a doubt,

the visit, Kathleen blurted out, “Aunt Emily, what are you

mushroom soup. Try some,” Emily replied as she poured a

wasn’t too hot, the

Emily, I’m sorry to have

on ceremony with me,” Emily said with a grin. “Your mother-in-law’s busy, so she got

her head. “I don’t need anything,

again. It’s really no bother at

need anything, Aunt Emily,” Kathleen mumbled

Emily let out a sigh. “It’s heart-rending to see you like

pale lips

did Samuel say?” Emily

wants to live

often fail to appreciate what they have until it’s gone,” Emily uttered. “The whole family has tried to talk some sense into him,

it turned out, Emily

being in that powerful position gave him a

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

painful loss before he finally understood what

Kathleen was

you?”

lip. “But if I

the rest of the world forced him to do so, Samuel

viable option, things wouldn’t

it again, she realized

Samuel was the one who wanted a divorce,

but it became her turn to

two of them went back and forth with no end

pale face and mumbled, “You’re a good person.

feelings for Samuel and didn’t want to embarrass

truly understand

means weak, but she knew she loved Samuel a little

watched Kathleen finish her food. Afterward,

Kathleen decided it was time to do

into the

under the showerhead, her hand