All Too Late

“Well then, when did your affair with Christopher begin?” Samuel asked coldly.

Kathleen leered at him sideways. “Do you truly want to know? Aren’t you afraid of getting triggered?”

“I am,” Samuel answered. His tone was bone-chilling.

“So don’t ask.” Kathleen paused, hesitating. She then continued, “I take a person’s privacy very seriously. Hence, I have no interest in sharing my private life with outsiders.”

Kathleen’s word echoed in Samuel’s mind. Outsiders?

A shadow gradually enshrouded his eyes. She called me family not long ago, but now I’m an outsider?

“It’s done. You can eat now.” Kathleen turned off the fire at the stove.

She then moved the plate of pasta out to the dining room.

Meanwhile, Samuel tried to stamp out the hostility in his eyes, attempting to regain his composure. “Thank you.”

“All right, enjoy your meal. I’m heading home now.” Kathleen removed her apron and got ready to leave.

Samuel paused for a moment, then asked, “Would you stay and talk for a bit?”

Kathleen gazed at him serenely. “I’m going to bed. The face of a female celebrity is of utmost importance. No botox injections can compare to the benefits of beauty sleep.”

Samuel stared at her in return.

Kathleen had spoken calmly without spite. She was merely stating a fact.

It appeared as if she was undeniably treating Samuel as an average family member.

“Okay, then. Goodnight,” Samuel uttered in disbelief.

Nevertheless, there was nothing he could do about it.

He had no other choice. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to grow closer to Kathleen in his entire lifetime.

When Kathleen approached the doorway, she swiveled around. “Samuel, please revoke my VIP status from the malls.”

Samuel looked at her coldly. “All you need to do is not spend your money there. I’ll stop the subscriptions then.”

“I’ll pay you back next time.” Kathleen desired a clean slate with him.

Samuel glared at her. “Will you be spending Charles’ money?”

“Of course.” Kathleen tipped her head up, then declared proudly, “He’s my brother after all.”

family and your brother, too. So why can’t you spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then.

had difficulty winning an argument against

turned around

a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and

his fork and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin

back to

the house, she

gloomy expression on his face. “Where did

a meal with Gemma and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought you

lips twitched. “You had only a meal with them? That’s still no excuse to

that Kathleen was trying

grinned. She then confessed, “I met with Samuel

stairs. “And here I thought it was him

family members. He is something like

will never be his brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop to his

you do somehow enrage him to the point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come pestering me once again. When that happens, I won’t let

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her

to be his family?” Charles found the

peered at him. “That’s right. You don’t believe

I do believe that it can be true. But if it’s Samuel, I don’t believe it

His proposal to merely be Kathleen’s family is probably just a way for him to buy more time. I bet it’s so that

flatly. She then spoke with indifference. “Charles, not even I know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we decide

Charles pursed his lips.

that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it if Samuel did end up plaguing

sighed. She was not a fool. “You should learn to trust in

aback by

Kathleen marched up

then let out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some things

having breakfast when Maria brought over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this is an invitation from

surprised.

scanned through it, Kathleen

Johnson. It’s from Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen immediately placed the invitation down. “It’s

is he inviting you over?” Charles

but in

a heartbeat. “So should we give

he wants to speak with me alone. So

do you plan on telling them?”

truth.” Kathleen had no desire to lie to