All Too Late

Chapter 43

Kathleen entered a restaurant and ordered herself a plate of vegan pasta.

After her meal, she soon left to visit Benjamin who was admitted to the nearby hospital.

Kathleen couldn’t help her rising concern as she observed the unconscious form of Benjamin through the window of his hospital room.

“My brother’s condition has been stable since early this morning,” Gemma uttered from behind Kathleen.

Kathleen turned to face Gemma, who was dressed in her nurse’s uniform and balancing a tray between her hands.

“When will your brother be regaining consciousness?” queried Kathleen cautiously.

Gemma’s expression darkened as she replied, “The doctor says that it’s still too early to tell.”

“Why not try consulting the opinions of other specialists?”

“It’s all right, Kathleen. There’s still time,” Gemma comforted. “By the way, how was your experience volunteering?”

“It was such an eye-opener! I learned so much from it,” Kathleen enthused.

Gemma smirked. “I watched your speech just now during my break. You were pretty amazing out there.”

“By the way, why the sudden interest in individuals with autism?”

“Well, my foster brother is autistic,” said Gemma grimly.

Now that is new.

“My foster parents come from pretty wealthy backgrounds. They adopted me as I had seemed pliant and obedient. Their hopes were that I would comply with their wishes to look after their son once they were gone. Their plan was for both of us to marry by offering me their inheritance as an incentive. They then threatened to disown me if I were to refuse,” said Gemma drily.

Kathleen was stunned speechless.

“I overheard all this when I was in high school. If I were to go against them, they swore never to pay for my tuition fees and daily expenses. Gaining admission into a university would have been a lost cause.”

“That’s preposterous!”

“Consider yourself lucky, Kathleen. Truly. I’ve gone through the worst of it all, and things barely faze me these days,” advised Kathleen with a wry smile.

Kathleen gripped Gemma’s hands anxiously. “What happened after? How did you make it out?”

“Thankfully, my brother was already a policeman back then. He located me and sponsored me all the way till graduation.” Gemma smiled fondly.

sympathy welled up within Kathleen, her eyes prickling

My brother will

Kathleen pursed her lips.

Gemma was right.

was indeed very

always treated her

time. “Duty calls. I will catch

Kathleen added with a

final parting glance at Benjamin’s room, Kathleen

up with Federick to finalize the terms of

sorry, Frederick! A-About yesterday…” stammered

offered a gracious

perused the terms. “You’re willing to pay this much for my

their work. Yours is

hundred and fifty thousand has already far exceeded my expectations.” Kathleen beamed with

be able to complete

signing

to you.

as a celebration of my

rain check. I still need

Federick. Whenever you’re free. I will be taking

“Sure. Take care.”

Kathleen departed with a faint smile plastered on

and therapeutic as basking in the spring sunlight

was consumed by the

was getting paid for the

wasn’t much, but it was a

could barely suppress her

a present for Old Mrs. Macari! But Old Mrs. Macari has everything she needs. Even so,

received slightly less than fifty thousand in her bank account after

that, she was

with joy as she entered the department

items, Kathleen

of Kathleen’s voice instantly dispelled

slip a

she answered

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