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

right, I understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an

then turned

sunny-side-up egg on it.

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

to the Johnson

moment she stepped into the house,

did you go? I

Gemma and Benjamin,” Kathleen

a meal with them?

was secretly angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying to mislead him with

She then confessed, “I

fell down the stairs. “And here I thought it was

through with Samuel. From today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something

be his brother.

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 family, he’ll come pestering me once again. When that happens, I won’t let you off so easily,” Kathleen

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her way

be his family?”

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

that it can be true.

man is way too cunning. 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 he could get closer to her. Why is she so foolish, though?

planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we decide to leave one day. Otherwise, once everything is settled, do you

Charles pursed his lips.

Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay

a fool. “You should learn to trust in

aback

Kathleen marched

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

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

surprised. The

it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to ear. “This is

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

he inviting you

what I meant? Nothing was happening between Christopher and me, but in the end, the Morris family misread the situation. They’re making

turned awkward in a heartbeat. “So should we give Christopher

wants

plan on telling them?”

Kathleen had no desire to