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 understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an argument against

turned

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

a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly. She can never escape

walked back to the Johnson

stepped into the house,

did you go?

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

only a meal with them? That’s still no excuse to return

was trying to mislead him with

grinned. She then confessed, “I

here I thought it was him who was pestering

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.

never be his brother. It’ll be asking me

do somehow enrage him to the point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come pestering me once again. When

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her way

to be his family?” Charles

him. “That’s right.

true. But if it’s Samuel, I don’t

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

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

Charles pursed his lips.

of Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay for

not a fool. “You should learn to

was taken aback by

Kathleen marched

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

over an

was surprised.

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

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

he inviting you

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

“So should we give

wants to speak with me alone. So what’s the use of calling Christopher?” Kathleen

on telling them?”

Kathleen had no desire