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.”

too. So why can’t you spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that you

I understand.” Kathleen always had

turned around and

stared at his plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg

of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his

walked back to the

moment she stepped into the house, she heard

gloomy expression on his face. “Where did you go? I hadn’t heard

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

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

that Kathleen was trying to mislead

grinned. She then confessed, “I met with

stairs. “And here I thought it was him who

today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to me, and so are you. The two of you are brothers henceforth. Please

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

be bothered to care about all that. In the end, if you do somehow enrage him to the point where he no longer wants to be my

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made

his family?” Charles found

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

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

just a way for him to buy more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer to her. Why is she

then spoke with indifference. “Charles, not even I know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he

Charles pursed his lips.

Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one

sighed. She was not a fool. “You should learn

was taken aback by her

Kathleen marched

out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t

over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson,

was surprised.

open. As she scanned through it,

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

he inviting you over?”

to ask about what’s going on between Christopher and me. Now, do you understand what I meant? Nothing was happening between Christopher and me, but in the end, the Morris family misread the situation. They’re making a commotion out of nothing.” There was no readable expression on Kathleen’s clean face

turned awkward in a heartbeat. “So should we give

asking me to go over on my own. It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me alone.

you plan on telling them?”

no desire to lie