All Too Late

Chapter 9 Emergency Contact

“That won’t be necessary. Old Mrs. Macari is in poor health, so it would be better if you don’t tell her, lest she worry for me,” Kathleen said.

“Have you been alone throughout the years?” Gemma hung her head low as she sat beside Kathleen.

“I suppose,” Kathleen replied.

“You suppose? What does that mean?” Gemma was confused.

Kathleen smiled ruefully.

Ever since marrying Samuel, she was mostly alone even though it seemed as if they lived together.

“Kathleen, you’re quite lucky. You at least have Old Mrs. Macari.” Gemma sounded depressed. “My brother and I are different. Neither of us was of legal age. Nobody wanted to adopt the both of us together, so we were forcefully separated when adopted by different families.”

“So that was what happened.” Kathleen pulled her lips into a thin line.

“Jeez, why am I even telling you this?” Gemma’s expression reverted to its former state. “I need to go to a night shift at the hospital later on. You take care.”

“It’s fine. I’ll leave after getting some rest.” Kathleen knew she shouldn’t have met up with Gemma, for both of them had varying degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Their parents’ passing had caused great hurt to their young and fragile hearts.

Because there were hurt that would never heal, these kinds of people had come to a tacit agreement to not meet up with each other.

Without meeting each other, they would never be forced to recall those painful memories.

“Kathleen!” Gemma sounded slightly exasperated, causing Kathleen to pause for a moment.

Realizing that she might have said that a little too loud, Gemma softened her tone. “It’s fine. This place is your home too. I have clean clothes in my room, so you can put them on after taking a shower. There’s still some oatmeal that I made last night in the kitchen. Have some after heating it.”

Gemma went to get changed as she spoke and was ready to leave after putting on her coat.

“Gemma, are you working in a hospital now?” asked Kathleen.

“I work as a nurse now.” Gemma didn’t look back. “Kathleen, I’ve already moved on, so it’s fine. It’s okay even if you have troubles that you can’t talk about to me. Just stay without worrying about anything else.”

She left after saying that.

a

and her were dealt the heaviest blows during the incident because both of

managed to force them back when she lowered her head to check the blood on

room and took a change of clothes

belly in the mirror before reaching a fair hand out

her disappointment, tears still fell when she recalled the fact that it was

He must be all

the road, Samuel was leaning against his Maybach while puffing

chain-smoking, so cigarette butts were littered all over the ground

but he had

phone tightly as his heart trembled

from my life entirely? No! I won’t allow this

ran over to him. “We’ve found the drunken

Samuel ordered in

two bodyguards brought the drunken man over to him, the man was already battered and bruised

have you done to that woman?” Samuel lifted

aware that Samuel wasn’t someone he could afford to cross, so

off.” Samuel didn’t even

the bodyguards

Samuel was being serious, the drunken man fell to his knees before Samuel while begging for mercy, “Please don’t chop my hands

“Speak.” Samuel looked intimidating.

divorce. Lust overtook me when I saw a beautiful woman standing beside the road, but I didn’t do anything to her. A man saved her and brought her away as soon as I dragged her into an

did you use to

dared not

off since he doesn’t have the guts to reply.” Samuel’s

this hand!” The drunken man raised his left

You touched her with both hands. Chop

nearly fainted

ask if you’ve already made up your

one of his hands off with a clean swipe

his mouth before his other hand

to a deserted place,” ordered

“Yes, Sir!”

man away with them, while the other bodyguards stayed behind to