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.”

slightly peeved by then. “Or is it

I understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty

then turned around

a sunny-side-up egg on it.

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

to the Johnson

moment she stepped into the house, she heard Charles

face. “Where did you

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

twitched. “You had only a meal with them? That’s

was secretly angry, thinking that Kathleen was

“I met

“And here I thought it was

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 me, and so are you. The two of you are brothers henceforth.

laughed sarcastically, “Haha! I will never be his brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop

you please then. I can’t 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 family, he’ll come pestering me once again. When that

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her

promise to be his family?” Charles found the entire notion

right. You don’t believe

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

buy more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer to her. Why is she so foolish, though? She actually

But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t

Charles pursed his lips.

not afraid of Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it

She was not a fool. “You should learn to trust

aback by her

Kathleen marched up

long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some things are better

when Maria brought over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson,

was surprised.

then flipped it open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from

Maria answered.

he inviting you

I meant? Nothing was happening between Christopher and me, but in the end, the Morris family misread

awkward in a heartbeat. “So should we give

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

what do you plan on telling them?” Charles

no desire to lie