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.”

your family and your brother, too. So why can’t you spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that you don’t want to be family with me? I

had difficulty winning an argument

turned around and

sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and reminded him of Kathleen’s

bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly. She can

to the Johnson

she stepped into the house, she

face. “Where did you go? I hadn’t heard

a meal with Gemma and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained.

a meal with them?

that Kathleen was trying to mislead him with a

“I met with Samuel

nearly fell down the stairs. “And here I thought it was him who was pestering

two of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to me, and so are you.

will never be his brother. It’ll be asking

In the end, if you do somehow enrage him to the point where he no longer wants to be

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her

promise to be his family?”

right. You don’t believe

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

family is probably just a way for him to buy more time. I bet it’s so that he could get

what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t

Charles pursed his lips.

would be

a fool. “You

aback by

Kathleen marched up the

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

was surprised. The

scanned through it, Kathleen

Morris,” Maria answered.

he inviting you over?”

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.”

a heartbeat. “So should we give Christopher

he wants to speak with me alone. So what’s

what do you plan on telling

no desire to lie