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.”

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

always had difficulty

turned around

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

of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly. She can never escape from

to the Johnson

moment she stepped into the house, she heard Charles

“Where did you go? I hadn’t heard from

and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought you

corner of Charles’ lips twitched. “You had only a meal with them? That’s

angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying to mislead him with

then confessed, “I met with Samuel as

“And here I thought it

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

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

as 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

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her

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

right.

be true. But if it’s Samuel, I

be Kathleen’s family is probably just a way for him to buy more time. I

at Charles flatly. She then spoke with indifference. “Charles, not even I know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we decide to leave one

Charles pursed his lips.

Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it if Samuel did end up plaguing

was not a fool. “You should

was taken aback by her

marched up the

figure, then let out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some things are better left unknown. Elsewise, it would

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

surprised. The Morris

it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to

Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen immediately placed the

he inviting you over?” Charles

ask about what’s going on 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

a heartbeat. “So should

obvious that he wants to speak with

plan on telling them?” Charles

had no desire to lie