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.”

spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that you don’t want to be family with me? I

I understand.” Kathleen always had

turned around

plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and reminded him of Kathleen’s

fork and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so

back to

into the house,

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

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

meal with

that Kathleen was trying to mislead him with

grinned. She then confessed, “I met with Samuel as

stairs. “And here I thought it was him who

Kathleen felt at ease. “Charles, relax. I talked things through with Samuel. From today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to

be his brother. It’ll be asking me to

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

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her

promise to be his family?”

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

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

buy more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer to

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

Charles pursed his lips.

Charles feared that Kathleen would be

not a fool. “You should learn to trust in me

taken aback by her

marched

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

morning, Kathleen was having breakfast when Maria brought over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this is an invitation

surprised. The

it open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to ear. “This

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

he inviting you over?” Charles

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

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. So what’s the use of

plan on telling them?”

had no desire to lie to